The State Government is set to deploy around 250 doctors and paramedical staff apart from the existing medical personnel in the district for the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath at Puri. The annual car festival is scheduled to be held from July 10 to 18.
The medical contingent comprising over 60 specialists, 54 pharmacists, 77 health workers, 20 nurses and 28 ward attendants would be deployed at the hospitals along with the health and medical aid centres that would be opened in the Pilgrim city in view of the huge turnout of devotees during the festival.
Taking stock of the medical arrangements as well as the outbreak prevention measures including maintenance of sanitation and hygiene across the City, Health Minister Damodar Rout on Thursday said the district headquarters hospital is being spruced up and would be equipped with a 12-bed ICU before the festival.
With over 10 lakh devotees and pilgrims expected to converge for the festival, the Government has decided to open around 21 medical aid centres in Puri and along the National Highway connecting the City. The centres would function from July 9 to 22.
Special arrangements would be made at the district headquarters hospital. Along with two mobile medical units, more than 20 Government ambulances and 108 emergency ambulance units would be pressed into service.
While sanitation works have been intensified, all water sources will be treated and purified to prevent outbreak of disease during the festival.
The water purification facilities would have to conduct daily analysis on the quality of water and file reports, Rout said.