By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 22 Jan: Special arrangements have been made for the players coming to Uttarakhand to participate in the National Games being hosted by the state from 28 January to 14 February by the Health Department at Maharana Pratap Stadium in Dehradun and IGICS Stadium in Haldwani.
In all, 141 teams have been formed to provide health facilities to the players and guests during the 38th National Games. These teams have been asked to remain on alert from 28 January to 14 February, ready to provide facilities ranging from ambulances to heli-ambulances immediately if and when needed.
The Health Department has made extensive preparations for the National Games. According to Health Secretary R Rajesh Kumar, state-level Nodal Officers, Deputy Nodal Officers, and Co-Nodal Officers have been deployed. At the district level, District Nodal Officer, Chief Medical Officer and Co-Nodal Officer, Additional Chief Medical Officer have been appointed, with district-level nodal officers nominated for ambulances.
A 10-bedded hospital will specially be operated for the players in Dhanvantari Block of Maharana Pratap Stadium, Raipur, Dehradun. Similarly, a two-bedded hospital will be operated at IGICS Stadium, Gola Par, Haldwani. Medicines and equipment are being purchased in sufficient quantities for the players.
Dr Tarun Tamta, Chief Superintendent, District Hospital, Nainital, has been nominated as the nodal officer of Kumaon division. Dr Tamta is a qualified expert in sports medicine, while, Dr KS Negi has been nominated as the nodal officer of Garhwal division at the level of Director, Medical Health and Family Welfare, Garhwal Division.
Nodal officers and co-nodal officers have also been appointed for primary, secondary, and tertiary health care. In secondary health care, medical specialists such as neuro, cardiac, head injury, and spine injury experts will be on-call 24/7 during the games.
Each district hospital will have three on-call 24/7 ambulances equipped with necessary medicines. On-call 24/7 teams have been deployed in medical units near the players’ residences. Listed hospitals have been arranged in each district.
For each sport and shift, a team consisting of a doctor, two nursing staff, two physiotherapists (female/male), and a ward boy will also be available, with an additional team on standby. ALS and BLS ambulances, along with medical teams, have been deployed at all sports venues, with BLS ambulances on standby.
In addition, 150 doctors, 300 nursing staff, 25 physiotherapists, 30 pharmacists, and 50 ward boys have been deployed for the games. During the National Games, 115 ambulances will be available, including departmental and 108 service ambulances. Five beds will remain reserved in the trauma department of AIIMS Rishikesh from 28 January to 14 February 2025, with airlift facilities available if and when required.
It may be recalled that, in all, 50 medical officers have received training for capacity building at AIIMS Rishikesh, representing the entire district.
Commenting on these arrangements, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami observed that hosting the National Games is a moment of pride for the state. Providing the highest health facilities to players and guests is the government’s priority. He added that every small and big need has been taken care of.
