Hon’ble Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Shri Bhupesh Baghel, inaugurated Vedanta BALCO’s COVID Field Hospital in a virtual ceremony today along with Mr. Anil Agarwal, Chairman – Vedanta Resources, Mr. Abhijit Pati, CEO and Director – Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO), and other dignitaries.
BALCO, Vedanta Group’s Chhattisgarh-based subsidiary, has marshalled all resources to establish this COVID hospital within the perimeter of its landmark Balco Medical Centre (Cancer Hospital), in the shortest possible time. The air-conditioned field hospital, which has 90 beds equipped with oxygen support and 10 beds with ventilator support, will be managed by the Balco Medical Centre. An expert team of doctors, specialists, and medical/paramedic staff will continuously man the facility.
Mr. Abhijit Pati, CEO and Director, BALCO, said, “We have been working closely with the Chhattisgarh state government and Korba district administration since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the region. The health and well being of our communities have always been our foremost priority, and we have ramped up all measures to keep them safe. We have augmented our COVID Care facilities, accelerated vaccination drive and intensified community awareness on COVID appropriate behaviour, at and beyond our operations. The field hospital is one of the many initiatives taken by the Vedanta Group to ensure that the citizens have access to advanced medical treatment for COVID. This facility will definitely strengthen the efforts of the state government in combating COVID-19.”
Towards this, and for providing need-based support to the state and central governments and local communities, Vedanta has pledged INR 150 Cr to help the country in its fight against the rapidly spreading second wave of COVID-19. This is over and above the INR 201 Cr that was spent by the Vedanta group last year. This included a contribution to COVID Relief Fund and Vedanta’s commitment of catering to three specific areas–livelihood of daily wage workers across the nation, preventive health care and support to all its employees and contract partners across its plant locations.
Among other COVID initiatives, BALCO has developed a 100-bedded COVID Care Centre equipped with required infrastructure and medical staff to provide proper care and treatment to the affected. The company has also supported the Korba district administration’s efforts by providing critical equipment and medicines to fight the pandemic.
BALCO’s own 75-bedded super-specialty hospital is fully equipped with multi-specialty doctors to serve employees, their families, business partners and others. It is on stand-by to support the district administration as needed.
BALCO Hospital has been awarded with the ISO 9001-2015 certificate for its commitment to excellent management and quality in the field of medicine.