RWAs running 25 isolation centres in Noida sectors

NOIDA: The RWA federation, in collaboration with Noida Authority, is operating about 25 isolation centres for Covid-19 patients at community centres across various residential sectors.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath inspected one such centre at the Sector 45 community centre on Sunday. During his visit, the federation urged the CM for vaccination camps in residential sectors.

The centres are equipped with oxygen cylinders, medicines used for Covid treatment, paramedic staff and doctors who are either attached to neighbouring hospitals or are residents, the federation said. “Some of these L1 isolation centres are operating in sectors 12, 19, 34, 48, 49, 50, 82, 93, 100, 119 and 122, as well as Century Apartments and Udyog Vihar, among others. They are of varying capacities ranging from two to 20 beds. We are getting the support of the Noida Authority in refilling of oxygen cylinders at Rs 500 per cylinder,” said Yogendra Sharma, president of the Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Associations (FONRWA).

According to KK Jain, the secretary-general of FONRWA, member RWAs and social organisations have pooled in resources and started these facilities to benefit residents seeking medical assistance in home isolation.

“We have seen painful times in the last 15 days, during which we and many others have lost loved ones. Our member RWAs have done very important work by arranging food, oxygen cylinders, medicines, paramedics as well as doctors at these isolation centres. It’s the local RWAs who have stepped in at times of dire need for residents,” Jain said.

The FONRWA president urged the CM to arrange for vaccination camps to be held in residential sectors so as to reach more residents, especially the elderly and those with comorbidities, as many haven’t been able to get slots for inoculation through the Co-WIN portal. “The CM has assured us of action as the matter is still under consideration. We are in talks with the chief medical officer and hope to find a solution to this soon, as drive-through vaccination drives are not feasible for the elderly and those with comorbid conditions,” Sharma said.

Meanwhile, social organisations such as Challengers Group, a youth body, are providing medicines, oxygen concentrators and ambulance services to residents in villages as well as the economically weaker sections of society in urban areas. “We are trying our best, but it is like a drop in the ocean given the situation in villages, where testing and medical facilities are negligible,” said Prince Sharma, president of the group.