HUBBALLI: Defunct ventilators combined with shortage of technicians to manage them are providing physicians in the taluk Covid hospitals a difficult moment. From the seven districts of Belagavi branch, over 213 ventilators are readily available. Of these, barely 108 are working or being utilized from the health area. And nine machines have been not yet been set up. The stark reality is that just five ventilators are operating in Bilagi taluk hospital at Bagalkot district, in which 25 ventilators are readily available. Back in Mudhol, represented by deputy chief minister Govind Karjol, all six ventilators are left unused because of absence of technicians. According to sources at the health area, the major reason behind ventilators not used from the taluk hospitals would be unavailability of pros. Individuals in rural areas generally rely upon taluk hospitals throughout any health problem. Even as individuals struggle to find oxygen and ventilators because of their contaminated kin, leading officials at the health department haven’t done much to make sure the lifesaving equipment are readily available. Of those 108 ventilators which are either defunct or never used in taluk hospitals in seven areas of Belagavi branch, three at Hungund taluk hospital at Bagalkot district are still under repair. Five ventilators have never been installed yet in the Jamakhandi taluk hospital. Further, both four ventilators at Byadagi and 2 at Shiggaon of Haveri district have been under repair. The ventilators in Ranebennur taluk hospital have been lying due to a sensor problem. In the area hospitals of Dharwad, Haveri, Bagalkot, Vijayapura, GIMS Gadag, BIMS Belagavi, KRIMS Karwar and KIMS Hubballi, of their complete 434 ventilators provided, just 416 have been in utilization and 18 aren’t working because of technical difficulties. Divisional joint manager of health and family welfare Dr Prabhu Biradar stated they are going to have walk in interviews to employ technicians and specialist doctors. They deductions would be satisfied, along with the defunct ventilators will be mended, he explained. “We also have begun online training for physicians and other employees pertaining to managing ventilators. All physicians and other employees will be trained in managing ventilators,” he added.