From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Aug 17: Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr K Sudhakar has appealed to the industries to join hands with the State Government in its vaccination drive to help in controlling the spread of the Covid 19 pandemic.
Dr Sudhakar, who is also heading the Medical Education Department, urged the pharmaceutical companies to help the State Government through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.
Addressing a meeting of representatives of industries and pharmaceutical companies in Bengaluru on Tuesday, the minister pointed out that the Union government was supplying 75% of the vaccines to the State Government free of cost and the balance 25% has been allocated to the private sector.
The private sector companies, particularly the leading industries, should purchase the allocations of vaccines reserved for the private sector out of their CSR funds and provide the vaccines to the State Government as their contribution, he said.
The Health Minister pointed out that the technical and medical experts have mentioned that the possible third wave of Covid 19 pandemic may not be that serious. However, the State Government has to be prepared and must be ready for any situation.
As the Covid infection may not be very severe for those who have already received two doses of vaccines and that even if infected, the cases may not be fatal, he said and underscored the need to increase the coverage of vaccination to the entire eligible population within a short span.
``If the private sector joins hands with the government, the impact of the possible third wave can be minimized and people can be protected,’’ the minister said.
Dr Sudhakar said the State Government would reach out to the nutritional foods manufacturers as well as cosmetic and beauty sector entrepreneurs and urge them to lead helping hand through their CSR funds.
The minister also held separate discussions with representatives of oxygen manufacturers as part of the strategy to be prepared for the possible third wave and ensure that there was no shortage of oxygen, if the need arises.
Dr Sudhakar said as many as 7 companies were producing 812 tonnes of oxygen per day. The State presently has 5,381 tonnes of stocks. There were 64 oxygen refilling units in the State. However, no oxygen refilling units were available in Gadag, Chikkaballapur, Chitradurga, Bidar, Yadgir, Chamarajanagar, Kodagu and Mandya districts.
Steps will be taken to ensure that all districts and even taluks had oxygen refilling units to meet any eventuality, he said.
The minister wanted the private companies to enhance their production and storage capacities and promised all help from the State Government.
Senior officials Manish Mudgil and Shalini Rajneesh were also present with the minister.