As the second wave of Covid has hit the country hard, volunteers and government officials are working round the clock to meet the people’s medical needs. Recently, Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Temple administration has come up with series of Nobel initiatives to help alleviate the crisis. This has become a relief for Covid patients across the state.
Speaking to News Karnataka Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala temple explaining his noble initiative said, “the oxygen emergency arising due to the pandemic has become severe. Since one of the tell-tale symptoms of Covid is breathing difficulty and other lung-related problems, supplemental oxygen therapy has been widely recognised as pivotal for improving the condition of Covid patients. In India, especially in Karnataka, the oxygen supply has failed to meet the demands arising due to a heavy surge in Covid cases across the state. Thus SDM has come up with a plan to provide medical oxygen to government hospitals free of cost, he said.
“We have donated a medical oxygen tanker of 5.5 tonnes to the Wenlock hospital and probably on Sunday May 9, another tanker of medical oxygen will be provided to Udupi district. We have plans of providing 100 tonnes of oxygen across the state to meet the increasing demand for oxygen,” he added.
Further, he said that under the Dharmasthala Gramabhivruddhi scheme we are providing free vehicle facilities to the Covid patients. By providing two vehicles to each taluk, we have so far provided 350 vehicles across the state for Covid patients free of cost.
“SDM Dharwad, SDM Ayurvedic Hospital, Hassan, and SDM Hospital, Ujire have special Covid care centres. We have donated Ra 10 lakh toSDM, Dharwad so that concession in treatment for the poor Covid patients can be provided. We have transformed the old TB hospital situated in Ujire into Covid care centre which has nearly 150 beds and all the other basic facilities. We are even providing patients with breakfast and meals free of cost, he informed.
Expressing his concern towards society Heggade said, ” I have also written a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa to provide anti-Covid vaccines in all the 15000 Dharmasthala Gramabhivruddhi Kendras situated in the rural areas across the state. Shri Dharmasthala Manjunath temple administration has extended its helping hands in all the possible ways to combat the Covid 19,” he added.
