Science & Tech | Covid-19 Mitigation Efforts

Anchor Script

Thumbnail –

India’s Science & Tech Efforts
Immunizing us against COVID-19

Script

India is overcoming all the challenges posed by COVID-19 with the help of knowledge and by instilling confidence and trust in the country’s devoted scientists and scientific administrators.

Recently, PM Modi had an enriching interaction with more than 100 directors of the premier science and technology institutions of the country. PM also lauded the research and development work done by these institutions towards meeting the challenges posed by Covid.

During these unprecedented health crises, the efforts of India’s young innovators towards providing quick technological solutions have been widely appreciated.

Nation’s Science & Tech efforts towards Covid mitigation.

In the first place, let’s get started with the information of immediate use.

Various government departments and ministries have timely released up to date information through guidelines, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and regulations to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. These include the guidelines mandated for operationalization of COVID Care Services for Children & Adolescents, management of COVID-19 patients and COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedure for Neonates.

The efforts also incorporate Ministry of AYUSH’s Home Care Guidelines for children for prophylactic care, parent participation in home-based learning during school closure, practical and simple self-help manuals for the psychological well-being of healthcare workers, an Information booklet for rehabilitation of post-COVID-19 patients and Food Safety & COVID-19 guidelines issued by ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition.

To augment the capacity enhancement of medical oxygen, various significant initiatives, and contributions have been witnessed across the country.

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, the lead body of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed an oxygen concentrator named SHWAAS to save many lives across the country. The oxygen concentrator delivers enriched levels of oxygen to support patients with respiratory illness or who are on oxygen therapy.

Moreover, ‘Project O2 for India’ run by the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India has also supported the country in enhancing medical oxygen capability. Under this project, the National Consortium of Oxygen has enabled the supply of critical raw materials such as zeolites, setting up of small oxygen plants, manufacturing compressors, and final products, i.e., oxygen plants, concentrators, and ventilators.

Now, let’s have a look at the contributions from industry partnerships that have joined the warfare against mitigating the COVID pandemic.

To ramp up the COVID-19 testing capacity across the country, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India’s apex scientific research organisation has joined hands with Tata MD. The initiative will be utilised to manage the COVID-19 testing requirements across the country. Not only this, but the institute has also collaborated with an organization that has received regulatory approval by DCGI to undertake a two-arm phase-II clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of the drug Colchicine.

Now, let’s get to know about the major developments that have been initiated for the consumption and benefits of the general public.

Project Extension Hospitals of PSA, Government of India has led to the development of Modular hospitals that could act as an extension of hospital infrastructure and can be built adjacent to an existing hospital building.

Further, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar has also developed a power-free device ‘JivanVayu’, which can be used as a substitute for a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. The device functions without electricity and is adapted to both kinds of oxygen generation units like oxygen cylinders and oxygen pipelines in hospitals.

Some other important ventures include 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose developed by DRDO, PregCovid or the National Registry of Pregnant Women with COVID-19 in India by ICMR and Covid Severity Score Software.

The collective endeavours of our scientists have resulted in a host of Science & Tech innovations that have strengthened the nation’s fight against COVID-19. Together we can and we will beat the pandemic out, with the strengths and spirit of services as our backbones.

Sources/Visuals

file:///C:/Users/ssing/Downloads/Covidigest_Jun28_21%20(1).pdf
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1733687 – PM Modi
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1733638 – PM modi

Had an enriching interaction with Directors of leading IITs and @iiscbangalore during which we exchanged thoughts on a wide range of subjects including making India a hub for R&D, innovation and popularising science among the youth. https://t.co/x5vajvz3gf

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2021

The @iiscbangalore team shared an interesting presentation on their key R&D initiatives in areas like robotics, efforts in education such as training maths/science teachers, COVID-19 work. They emphasised on the need to give importance to health in Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2021

I was happy to know details on @iitbombay’s extensive work in technology for conversion of nitrogen generator to oxygen generator, cell therapy for cancer cure and their academic innovations like starting LASE programme, Masters in Digital Health, AI and Data Science.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2021

The team from @iitmadras talked about COVID mitigation efforts like setting up of a modular hospital, hotspot prediction, their multi-disciplinary research and their online BSc. in programming and data science. They are also working on enhanced digital coverage across India.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2021

The team from @iitmadras talked about COVID mitigation efforts like setting up of a modular hospital, hotspot prediction, their multi-disciplinary research and their online BSc. in programming and data science. They are also working on enhanced digital coverage across India.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2021