Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi has allocated ₹2.70 crore under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) for taking preventive measures against COVID-19 at hospitals in Wayanad, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts.
Mr. Gandhi has spoken over phone to Wayanad Collector Adeela Abdulla, Malappuram Collector Jaffer Malik and Kozhikode Collector Seeram Sambasiva Rao to step up the infrastructure at hospitals by buying medical equipment such as ventilators. As such, ₹25 lakh will be allotted for Kozhikode for setting up ICU ventilators and buying infrared thermometers, PPE (personal protective equipment) kits, thermal imaging scanners, COVID-19 testing kits, face masks, gloves and sanitisers.
A sum of ₹1.38 crore for Malappuram district to buy adult ICU ventilators, portable ventilators, ICU cots, multiparameter monitor, oxygen concentrator ABG machine and N95 masks.
A sum of ₹1 crore has been allocated for Wayanad district. This will be for setting up a COVID-19 testing centre.
Meanwhile, Amee Yajnik, a Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, has also contributed ₹25 lakh for Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital under the MPLADS for purchasing ICU ventilators and equipment for screening COVID-19. Her proposal was based on the directive of Mr. Gandhi.