CSR: Vedanta BALCO’s COVID Field Hospital begins operations in Raipur, UP

Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel, inaugurated Vedanta BALCO’s COVID Field Hospital in a virtual ceremony on Wednesday.

BALCO, Vedanta Group’s Chhattisgarh-based subsidiary, has marshalled all resources to establish this COVID hospital within the perimeter of its landmark Balco Medical Centre (Cancer Hospital). The air-conditioned field hospital, which has 90 beds equipped with oxygen support and 10 beds with ventilator support, will be managed by the Balco Medical Centre. An expert team of doctors, specialists, and medical/paramedic staff will man the facility.

The Vedanta Cares Field Hospital project is an initiative of Anil Agarwal Foundation. Apart from Delhi NCR, the Vedanta Cares Field Hospitals are being set up in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Tamil Nadu.

Among other COVID initiatives, BALCO has developed a 100-bedded COVID Care Centre equipped with infrastructure and medical staff to provide proper care and treatment to the affected. The company has also supported the Korba district administration’s efforts by providing critical equipment and medicines to fight the pandemic. BALCO’s own 75-bedded super-specialty hospital is fully equipped with multi-speciality doctors to serve employees, their families, business partners and others. It is on standby to support the district administration as needed.

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said, “I am thankful to Anil Agarwal and the Vedanta Group for swiftly setting up and operationalizing this hospital at Raipur. This initiative reflects the Anil Agarwal Foundation’s resolve to serve the community. As the state government, we are doing everything possible to help the people, and support from corporates like Vedanta will definitely strengthen our efforts to provide intensive care and timely treatment to critical patients. The Vedanta Cares Field Hospital will benefit our urban as well as rural populace.”

Speaking about Vedanta Group’s commitment to bolster the central and state governments’ efforts in battling the pandemic, Anil Agarwal, Chairman, Vedanta Group, said, “The pandemic has disrupted millions of lives and livelihoods across the country, and I am deeply anguished to see the plight of our citizens. The Vedanta Group stands in solidarity with the nation and has pledged its support to the central and state governments in providing proper care to those affected by the disease. Our COVID Field Hospital in Chhattisgarh will aid the state government’s efforts to provide much-needed care to critically ailing patients. Parallelly, we will continue to work with the state and support the local district administrations to keep the communities safe as we strive to overcome the multiple waves of the pandemic.”

Abhijit Pati, CEO and Director, BALCO, said, “We have been working closely with the Chhattisgarh state government and Korba district administration since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the region. The health and wellbeing of our communities have always been our foremost priority, and we have ramped up all measures to keep them safe. We have augmented our COVID Care facilities, accelerated vaccination drive and intensified community awareness on COVID appropriate behaviour, at and beyond our operations. The field hospital is one of the many initiatives taken by the Vedanta Group to ensure that the citizens have access to advanced medical treatment for COVID. This facility will definitely strengthen the efforts of the state government in combatting COVID-19.”

Venkata Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Balco Medical Centre, said, “There are many things we must do to fight the pandemic, but a big part of this effort must be towards ramping up the healthcare facilities available in our country. This COVID Field Hospital will bolster our efforts and better equip us to serve the people of Chhattisgarh. The Balco Medical Centre is also grateful to Chairman Shri Anil Agarwal for entrusting us with the operation of this state-of-the-art facility.”

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