Indian Air Force is continuing to transporting medical supplies to equip the state governments and supporting agencies to combat Covid 19 effectively and efficiently. It has airlifted essential medical supplies and commodities from nodal points to Manipur, Nagaland and Gangtok in North Eastern region; and the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. In addition, An-32 aircraft, on April 6, 2020, airlifted personnel and 3500 kg of medical equipment of ICMR from Chennai to Bhubaneshwar for setting up of testing labs and facilities in Odisha. IAF has earmarked aircraft at nodal points to airlift medical supplies and equipment at short notice to proactively support operations against COVID 19. IAF has also airlifted critical medical supplies to Male.
Apart from establishing and managing various quarantine facilities across the country, Indian Army is also conducting door to door campaign in various parts of country, especially Jammu and Kashmir to make people aware regarding coronavirus pandemic. ADG PI has tweeted that a number of veterans of Army Medical Corps are volunteering through different channels to render their services in fight against COVID 19. It has requested all volunteers to contact on following mobile numbers indicating their field of specialisation: +919793638339 and 918948986999. In addition, Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, is contacting the Veterans through the Kendriya Sainik Board and the network of 32 Rajya Sainik Boards at state level and 403 Zila Sainik Board all over the country for their support.
Indian Naval Ships continue to be on stand-by in support of government in its fight against Covid 19. Southern Naval Command has prepared a Training Capsule for Battle Field Nursing Assistant to train non medical personnel who will work as force multipliers in times of emergencies. Basic concepts of Hand Hygiene, donning and doffing of PPE, concept of Biomedical waste management and carriage of casualty have been covered simply for the non medical personnel.
Civil and police administration have started requisitioning for services of Senior Division National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets in fight against COVID 19 pandemic. Ministry of Defence had allowed temporary employment of NCC cadets under ‘Exercise NCC Yogdan’ and guidelines were also issued in this regard. These cadets will give a helping hand to state and municipal authorities to augment relief efforts. The types of tasks envisaged for cadets include manning of helpline/call centres; distribution of relief materials, medicines, food/essential commodities; community assistance; data management and queue and traffic management and manning of CCTV control rooms. A number of States and Union Territory including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya Puducherry, Andaman Nicobar and Ladakh have requisitioned for employment of such cadets.
