PM Narendra Modi Launches Three COVID-19 Testing Facilities In Noida, Mumbai, Kolkata

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched three COVID-19 testing facilities in West Bengal, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh to ramp up testing on Monday (July 27), via video conferencing. According to the Prime Minister the three testing facilities set-up at National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research in Noida, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health in Mumbai and National Institute of Cholera and Entetic Diseases in Kolkata are high throughput facilities that will be able to test 10,000 samples a day. Together, the three national institutes under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will aid in ramping COVID-19 testing facility in the country. Speaking at the launch, PM Modi said,

With the launch of hi-tech state of the art testing facility today, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh are going to get more strength in the fight against Corona. Delhi-NCR, Mumbai and Kolkata are major centers of economic activity. Here millions of youth of the country come to fulfil their careers, their dreams. Now the available capacity of the test in these three places is going to add to the capacity of 10,000 tests.

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In his virtual address, PM Modi informed that the three hi-tech labs will not be limited to COVID-19 testing. In the future, they will provide testing facility for other diseases like Hepatitis B and C, HIV, Dengue, among others.

PM Modi further talked about India’s fight against the Novel Coronavirus and its current position. He was of the view that because of the right decisions taken at the right time, India is in a much better position when compared to other countries and said,

Today, the death due to corona in our country is much less than other big countries.

PM said that the most important factor in the long battle against COVID-19 was the establishment of Corona specific health infrastructure which is why, a package of Rs. 15,000 crore was announced at the beginning of the pandemic. He added,

Be it an isolation center, a COVID special hospital, or a network of testing, tracing and tracking, India expanded its capabilities at a very fast pace. Today, India has more than 11 thousand COVID facilities, over 11 lakh isolations beds.

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Further elaborating on COVID-19 testing facility in India and how it has improved in the last few months, PM said,

In January, we had only one center for the testing of COVID-19 whereas, today, around 1,300 labs are functioning in the country. On a daily basis, over five lakh COVID-19 tests are being conducted and it is being tried to increase the number to 10 lakh tests per day.

PM Modi also spoke about indigenous manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE) kit and other protective gears and called it a ‘big success’ story. He said,

Just 6 months ago, there was not a single PPE Kit manufacturer in the country. Today, more than 1200 manufacturers are producing more than 5 lakh PPE kits every day. At one time, India would source N-95 masks but today, more than 3 lakh N-95 masks are being made in India, every day.

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PM Modi also praised timely preparation and training of human resources – paramedics, ASHA workers, auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM), Anganwadi workers and other health and civil workers. He noted that, together we have to build new health infrastructure but at the same, we also have to strengthen government and private dispensaries and clinics in villages.

PM Modi asked to maintain caution during the upcoming festival season and ensure the virus doesn’t spread any further.

Before signing off, PM Modi touched on the development of Coronavirus vaccine and reiterated the call to follow precautionary measures. He said,

Talented scientists of our country are working for the early development of coronavirus vaccine. But until an effective medicine or vaccine is developed, wearing a face mask, practising social distancing and hand hygiene is the only option we have. We have to safeguard ourselves and also protect all the family members and acquaintances.

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NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.