Bokaro: Two years of entering the Covid-19 pandemic, Bokaro still hopes to get a RT-PCR lab in the district in the middle of the third possible wave.
Because of the unavailability of the RT-PCR lab, the samples collected in Bokaro were sent to Dhanbad or Ranchi which caused delays in getting reports.
However, the Ministry of Health officials on Sunday, said they tried hard to establish one of the earliest RT-PCR labs here added that the Lab infrastructure was ready in sector-5 but waiting for the engine installation.
Jitender Kumar Singh’s civil surgeon said, “We made efforts and coordinated with the state headquarters to carry out the operational of the RT-PCR lab immediately.” Minakshi Kumar, an official who cared for the RT-PCR project here, said, “Lab infrastructure is ready but because of the budget constraints, the RT-PCR engine has not arrived yet.
However, we now expect it to come next week.” RT-PCR Laboratory in Bokaro It was among the six labs announced by the Head of Minister of Hemant Soren in April this year together with Gumla, Ranchi, Chaibasa, Jamshar, Godda and Deoghar.
During the second wave, Truenat Machine was installed in conscious Hospital, Bokaro General Hospital (BGH) and at the Sub-Division hospital somehow managed the situation.
But officials say that speed testing will hold the key early detection when the Omicron variant is said to spread faster.
At present, the Ministry of Health collects more than 2,000 swab samples every day mostly tested through Truenat and mice.
Although RT-PCR tests are carried out in private laboratories here but people suspect the authenticity of the report.
Last year, Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) agreed to provide land and infrastructure to establish a lab but no one came from appointments.