Covid-19 pandemic: KIIT & KISS rise to the occasion
BHUBANESWAR: “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things”, goes the famous quote by Mother Teresa. Covid-19 pandemic has brought the entire humanity together, as everyone must do his or her bit to defeat the virus and save lives. Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology’s (KIIT) medical wing Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) has set up India’s first exclusive Covid-19 hospital, a 500-bedded ultramodern facility including 50 critical care beds, with the support of the govt of Odisha.
Inaugurated by chief minister Naveen Patnaik, the hospital, which functions from a dedicated block of KIMS having an exclusive team of doctors, nurses, paramedics and housekeeping staff, is operational since April 2, 2020. The hospital adheres to the standard best practices and follows WHO and ICMR guidelines. Recovered patients have praised the efforts of the hospital.
In anticipation of the possible positive cases in districts, KIIT has also set up three 200-bedded Covid-19 hospitals, one each in Kandhamal, Balangir and Mayurbhanj districts, with the support of the respective district administration. In Balangir and Mayurbhanj, the facility functions from the satellite campuses of KISS, which were inaugurated recently. All three district Covid-19 Hospitals, already operational from the mid of April, are managed by KIMS and provides round the clock services following WHO and ICMR guidelines.
To minimize academic loss to the students, KIIT is the first University to have begun online classes for 30,000 students. Encouragingly, about 95% of the students are attending the online classes, conducted through Zoom, regularly. Not only online classes, but there is good participation in the one-day academic seminars conducted online, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from the students. KIIT has made all preparations to conduct online examinations also. Similarly, 30,000 tribal students of KISS are in constant touch with their teachers through WhatsApp groups. The students are creating awareness of social distancing and respiratory hygiene in their respective districts.
KIIT and KISS have been trying to identify and reach out to various groups facing hardship due to the extended lockdown. Many teams have been formed by Prof. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS to help the affected-people cope with the hardship. Right from the start of the lockdown, a team has been distributing family survival packets – comprising of essential food items like rice, pulses, cooking oil, etc. – to the disadvantaged people living in various slums in Bhubaneswar. Another team has been assigned to deliver cooked food to police personnel on duty. Lunch is provided every day to more than 2000 police personnel across Bhubaneswar as well as adjoining cities of Puri and Cuttack.
The institution is also working closely with the govt of Odisha to provide all support logistics, infrastructure, healthcare, human resources etc. related supports. It is distributing cooked meals to migrant labourers from Bihar, who are stranded in Odisha. After some areas in Bhubaneswar were marked as containment zones, it distributed food and essential items to the people of the zone. KISS is working closely with the American Embassy in the evacuation of personnel who are stuck in Odisha and other adjoining areas. It is also distributing feminine hygiene products to women and girls in all the districts of Odisha.
KIIT and KISS have even set up a team to source and distribute fruits, vegetables, biscuits and other food materials to animals like monkeys, cattle and dogs, in and around the campus. IT has adopted 140 peacocks in Bhubaneswar and will take care of these beautiful birds.
“COVID-19 pandemic is the most serious global health crisis of our times and also the toughest humanitarian challenge. It has extracted a huge human toll, besides causing big setbacks to the economy. Our efforts are a drop in the ocean and aim to bring smiles on the faces of as many people as we can touch. But, I am sure, together, we will overcome this crisis also”, said Dr. Samanta.
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