AP CM Jagan Mohan Reddy today said that under their two-year-old Government, every single decision has been taken keeping in mind every family, region and social class. He said that he has tried to do good to every single person of the state, irrespective of their caste, religion, region and party. The CM made these statements as part of his thank you speech after the Governor’s speech, after the Budget Session. The Legislative Assembly condoled the death of those killed due to covid in the state. All the members, including the CM, observed two minutes of silence. Jagan then explained the steps being taken by the state government in the wake of the corona situation.
He said that the government has brought about radical changes in Arogyashree, and is trying to help out everyone through it. Jagan said, “I know the value of life very well. That is why as soon as the government came to power, we brought about radical changes in Arogyashree.” He said that his government always had the intention of Arogyashree being a life-giving scheme, according to which they took steps to ensure that Arogyashree applies to every family with an annual income of Rs.5 lakhs. He continued, “Before 2019, only 1000 diseases were possible. Now we have added 2400 diseases. We have made 104 and 108 vehicles fully available with medical equipment, as no government in the country has done. We have also appointed an ANM in the village and ward secretariats. Village clinics will be available in every village in the state. There are 90 types of medicines available in it, and two PHCs per zone. We are taking steps to ensure that each PHC has two doctors.”
He also said that the government has also made a purchase of more than 18,000 oxygen concentrators. Jagan also said. “Covid poses a big challenge to the world. The first case was registered in March last year in the state. In the past, more than 150 labs were made available in the state. We are doing more than 1,00,000 tests daily in the state. We are now providing medical services in 649 hospitals, where only 261 hospitals provided medical assistance during the first wave. After the division of the state, there is no metropolis. We have taken steps for the development of hospitals under ‘Naadu- Nedu’. The idea is to set up a teaching and nursing college within every parliamentary constituency. By last September, there were 37,400 beds for corona patients in the state, now 47,285 beds have been made available, and we have also set up covid care centres, where we have made 52,000 beds available to provide better medical services.” Jagan added that AP is the only state in the country that is providing free treatment and medicines for coronavirus patients under Arogyashree. He also said that about 25,000 people are receiving free medical facilities under Arogyashree on a daily basis. He said that the government spent Rs.2,229 crores in these 14 months on covid alone and that they have also brought the new black fungus disease treatment under Arogyashree.
Jagan said that they have taken steps to ensure that everyone will get any help in case of Covid if they dial 104. He said that they received more than 3 lakh calls just till the 16th of this month, on the 104 helpline, of which 60,634 have been admitted to hospitals. He said that they are also giving instructions to those in home isolation, on how to take care of themselves. Jagan said that they have set up an oxygen monitoring cell in all the districts, and made sure that there’s an immediate response to any problem anywhere. He also said that they are sending 4 to 6 empty tankers a day in aeroplanes to Odisha, to bring oxygen.
He noted that there are 1.48 Crore people over 45 years of age in the state and that they need 3,00,000 doses to complete their vaccination. He also said that there are over 2 crore people between the ages of 18-45, who will require more than 4 crore doses. He said that the state needs a total of 7 crore doses to complete the vaccination, but that the Centre has given only 76.29 lakh doses so far. He said that it’s sad how people are accusing them despite knowing all of these facts. He noted that only about 11% of the state’s population has been vaccinated. Jagan expressed confidence in achieving herd immunity if 50% of the population is vaccinated. Jagan said that the first priority of the government is to vaccinate those above 45 years of age and that the vaccination of those above 18 years of age will be started once vaccines are available.