Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 29: Advisor Baseer Ahmad Khan tonight said that there was no dearth of oxygen, COVID vaccine, Remdesivir and other things in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a hurriedly arranged press conference here, Khan said that the COVID-19 drug Remdesivir is available in ample quantity in J&K and there was no shortage at all. “The medicine is being provided to the places wherever it is needed,” he said.
The Advisor said that some people are trying to create fear that there is shortage of Remedesvir and oxygen and want to pretend that COVID related management is weak and cannot meet the demand.
“The situation is different as there is no shortage in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory and we have 20 ton oxygen available at present, which is sufficient to meet the demand. I want to make it clear that nobody will face hardships in terms of oxygen and other related things,” he said.
About COVID vaccine, Khan said Jammu and Kashmir had placed 1.25 Crore order of vaccine and it has already been dispatched. Aggressive vaccination drive will be launched within a day or two in this regard and at present vaccine is sufficiently available.
The Advisor said that he is also visiting the districts on the directions of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to see whether everything is in place. “Today, I visited Kulgam and Anantnag where I talked to people and religious heads. There was no shortage of oxygen and other things,” he said, adding that the other districts across the Valley too have no shortage and sufficient medicines, vaccine and oxygen is available to meet the requirement.
About Tocilizumab, he said that the order has been placed already and it will arrive tomorrow and distribution will be done as per the need. “We have already put in place the perspective plans and contingency plans and to enhance the infrastructure, the work has been started already. If demand goes up, we are ready to shoulder the situation,” he added.
He also shared the helpline numbers, saying that those in need can contact on 2457552, 2457543 and 6006333308. He appealed to people not to believe in rumors, adding that additional oxygen plants are coming up in Bijbehara, Srinagar and Kulgam.
Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, P K Pole said that Remdesivir is available sufficiently at SKIMS, SMHS and other hospitals. “Two-three day stock of Remdesivir is available at SMHS and SKIMS,” he added.
He said that at present 1600 oxygen connected beds are available in the Valley, saying that as against 3.26 crore LPM oxygen requirement, the Valley has availability of 5.43 LPM crore at present.
“We are increasing the oxygen connected bed capacity from 1600 to 2500 in five days while 111 ventilator beds are available and the critical manpower is being hired in this regard,” he said.
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