PANJIM: Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik has been urged by the Goa government to assist the State in tackling the COVID-19 crisis.
In a meeting held on Friday, that was attended by the Union minister who’s also the North Goa MP, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Commandant in Chief of the three Defence forces; the CM appealed for assistance from the Defence forces as positive cases of infection in the State continues to surge.
“The CM has sought help from the Army in view of rising number of COVID-19 cases in Goa. They (army) have agreed to extend help in terms of staff, doctors, hospital beds, blood donation, awareness campaigns etc,” Naik told reporters after the meeting in the capital on Friday.
After the outbreak, the defense forces have been handling the pandemic situation in terms of evacuation of stranded passengers from affected countries and they have also been providing trained manpower to friendly countries. In the country as well, medical facilities are being provided to states seeking help.
In April, the armed forces had planned dedicated COVID-19 facilities including high dependency units, intensive care units beds across 51 hospitals of the armed forces across the country. Trained medical staff has also been deputed.
Naik, who’s also the MoS (independent charge) of the Ayush Ministry, informed that nearly 6 lakh household in Goa will be provided with immunity boosting AYUSH medicines.
