The first set of 21 patients were admitted to the 10,000-bed Covid care facility at Chattarpur’s Radha Soami Satsang Beas centre, Sunday. Inaugurated by Lt-Governor Anil Baijal earlier in the day, the facility, called the Sardar Patel Covid Care Centre and Hospital (SPCCCH), is being manned by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
The centre is set up under a sprawling tent – 1,700 feet long, 700 feet wide – and will admit only Covid patients with mild to moderate symptoms.
ITPB will be running the first 2,000 beds with a team of 170 doctors/specialists and over 700 nurses and paramedics. ITBP spokesperson Vivek Pandey said, “They will work in shifts/teams.” Medical staff from defense forces such as CRPF and BSF will also provide assistance.
It has been linked with Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Madan Mohan Malviya hospitals, while referral tertiary-care hospitals are Lok Nayak Hospital and Super Speciality.
District Magistrate (South) BM Mishra said, “A total of 20 patients, aged between 20 and 50 years, have been taken in since the inauguration from South Delhi district. However, it is connected with all district surveillance officers and shall house patients from all 11 districts.”
The centre is equipped with WiFi, ACs propped up on stilts and a recreation centre with a library and board games, said officials. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Mehrauli) Sonalika Jiwani said: “It is not a sealed premise, it has open vents and circulation is such that air is not re-circulated.”
The beds are made of cardboard for easier disposal, and placed a few feet apart in rows. Ten per cent of the beds will have oxygen facility in case a patient develops severe breathlessness and requires tertiary hospital care. “Basic infrastructure such as beds, mattresses and linen have been donated by various civil society organisations,” said District Magistrate (South) BM Mishra. Vasant Kunj and Navjivan Vihar RWAs also pitched in, providing buckets and mugs, while NGOs Prayas and Sangini Saheli Foundation gave sanitary pads. Private companies such as Sleepwell donated beds and mattresses.
“Patients will get five healthy meals a day, along with immunity boosting chawanprash, juice, hot kadha etc,” said Mishra. Dr Ankur Sharma from the BSF, stationed at one of the medical tents, said, “We are keeping basic medicines such as antibiotics, cough syrup and vitamins.”