Covid vaccination drive held at Vedanta’s plant in Jharsuguda

In the first phase, 125 personnel from Vedanta’s Occupational Health team will be vaccinated 

Vedanta Aluminium has rolled out the COVID vaccination programme for its medical personnel and healthcare staff, organised in partnership with the District Health Administration of Jharsuguda, Odisha. In the first phase, 125 personnel from Vedanta’s Occupational Health team will be vaccinated. 

Praising the Odisha state government’s exceptional efforts against the pandemic, Rahul Sharma, Dy CEO – Aluminium Business, Vedanta, said, “Under the visionary leadership of Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha, the state has been at the forefront of combatting the pandemic. The Odisha Government’s rapid and firm response in dealing with the situation, from the creation of COVID hospitals in every district to implementing stringent public protocols, has been a superlative example in keeping the disease under control.”

Speaking about Vedanta’s efforts, Sharma added, “The safety and health of our employees and business partners is our foremost priority. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Odisha, we have lent extensive support to the state government, district administrations of Jharsuguda and Kalahandi, and the local communities, reaching out to more than 10 lakh people in the process. We remain committed to the fight against COVID and keeping our employees and communities safe.”

Vedanta had rolled out a slew of initiatives for the state of Odisha, particularly for communities around its areas of operations in Kalahandi, Jharsuguda, and adjoining areas, towards ensuring grassroots preparedness as a critical first step towards combating COVID-19:

• 1 lakh numbers of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) were provided to the Government of Odisha.

• Vedanta lent critical support to the district administration’s COVID hospitals in Jharsuguda and Bhawanipatna. The company supported the 110-bedded COVID hospital in Jharsuguda with medical equipment such as ventilators, corona kits, oxygen concentrators, nebulizers, specialised medical gear and other critical infrastructure. Likewise, the COVID hospital in Bhawanipatna was given PPEs and other essential supplies. Both hospitals together cater to roughly 6 lakh people.

• Vedanta’s own hospital in Lanjigarh supported the district administration and offered telemedicine facility alongside a 24X7 helpline to address concerns. The hospital continues to serve about 7,000 patients per month from the community.

• Vedanta provided up to a month’s supply of rations to nearly 5,000 daily wage earners, slum dwellers, needy families and marginal households across both districts.

• Mobile health Units along with anganwadi workers and paramedic staff conducted over 300 awareness sessions across more than 100 villages to spread awareness on COVID-19 prevention and social-distancing, in addition to distributing masks and soaps free of cost.

• Fumigation and disinfection of all prominent public places, local areas, public offices and township areas were undertaken in both districts, reaching out to over 1 lakh people in the process.

• Over 2 lakh reusable masks have been distributed across 114 villages, district administrations, police and jail authorities, media, and other critical personnel of Odisha, who were exposed as a part of their duties. These masks are stitched by rural women’s self-help groups (SHGs) supported by Vedanta, thus providing them livelihood in these times.