World Health Organisation (WHO) has provided 100 oxygen concentrators to the union territory (UT) of Ladakh to support the COVID-19 surge response in the mountainous region, which is one of the coldest and the most elevated inhabited places in the world.
The WHO team in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir delivered the oxygen concentrators to the capital Leh by road and handed over to UT of Ladakh officials — Dr Pawan Kotwal, Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education, and Dr Iftikhar M Chaudhry from the National Health Mission.
WHO vehicles carrying the resources reached Leh through a “green corridor” provided by the state traffic police at the request of Ganderbal District Superintendent of Police Feroz Yahya.
The inter-departmental coordination was led by Dr Suneem Khan, Nodal Officer for COVID-19 for the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Srinagar.
Despite snow and landslides blocking sections of the road, the journey was completed in one day via Drass.
The 100 oxygen concentrators were received by Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education Dr Kotwal.
“Extended gratitude to WHO for providing 100 oxygen concentrators to Ladakh. Request to open a WHO Office in UT Ladakh,” tweeted Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Member of Parliament from Ladakh on 23 May.
