At a time when India is witnessing increase in number of COVID -19 cases, and there is wide spread  apprehension concerning the risk of any future wave, the National Health Mission & Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Jharkhand,under the directive of Shri Aditya Kumar Anand, Mission Director,has organised a State Level Onsite Refresher Training on Oxygen Ecosystem Strengthening: Roll Out of Oxygen Demand Aggregation System (ODAS).

The training event took place today at IPH Hall, Namkum, Ranchi. 

Among those who took part in it included Civil Surgeons/District Surveillance Officers cum Nodal Officer for Oxygen Demand Aggregation System and District Data Manager of all 24 districts. 

This training was focused on estimating and monitoring oxygen demand in the state, districts & health facilities, and a total of 60 participants were present for the same.   

USAID NISHTHA partner PATH support in organising this training at the state level. 

In this training, Director Drugs Mrs Ritu Sahay welcomed all the participants and emphasized the importance of the subject matter. Motivated all to make the best use of this subject and ensure the implementation in the districts. 

The training was inaugurated by Shri Vidyanand Sharma Pankaj Ji, Additional Mission Director of National Health Mission, Jharkhand, and he emphasised and sensitised the officials on the importance of oxygen demand estimation and supply with respect to any future wave preparedness. 

On this occasion, the IEC poster developed by USAID NISHTHA partner PATH on oxygen ecosystem highlighting the different oxygen sources, utilisation, operation, roles, and responsibilities of the concerned personnel was launched. State Nodal Officer training, Dr Krishn Kumar also graced the occasion and highlighted the importance of oxygen and motivated the participants. 

ODAS is developed by the Government of India, in which every hospital (private and government) needs to update the information on bed occupancy and oxygen capacity, on a daily basis on the portal. The system allows the authorities at the district, state, and national level to make meaningful decisions based on the aggregated data. PATH is supporting NHM Jharkhand in the rollout of ODAS in the state. 

Mr Abhijeet Sinha from PATH took a session on an overview of the oxygen ecosystem. Mr Ram Kumar Jha (Drug Inspector, Ranchi) & Dr Chandrashekhar Ashok Bohra from PATH trained the district officials on ODAS & oxygen audit. Mr Kedarnath Gupta State Quality Assurance Consultant took a session on oxygen concentrators, shared the Jharkhand status, and discussed the gaps and way forward with the district officials. 

Team members, Mr Neel Ranjan, Mr Anil Kumar & Ms Shradha Sikaria from PATH, Mr Ramakrishna & Mr. Vijay Vikram from JHPIEGO. Rahul Kumar State Quality Assurance Consultants and members from NHM Jharkhand were also present on this occasion.