No.521/2021-2022
Aizawl, the 28thFebruary 2020 : A 800 LPM pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen plant was inaugurated by H&FW Minister Dr R.Lalthangliana at Christian Hospital Serkawn on Saturday (26th February 2022). The project is funded by Google.org as a part of their CSR initiative, with Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), Seattle, USA and GiveIndia as implementing partners.

In his inaugural address H&FW Minister Dr R.Lalthangliana thanked Google.org, PATH & Give India for their noble initiative, and also thanked Lunglei District MLAs, DC Lunglei, & CHS officials for their contributions towards successful implementation of the project. He said that the plant is a much welcome addition to the State government’s continued efforts to augment oxygen generation infrastructure in the State. Highlighting on the Covid-19 response in Mizoram, the H&FW Minister stated that Mizoram, with more than 18 lakh tests conducted so far, has one of the highest testing rates in the country, and that the current Covid death rate at 0.31% is one the lowest in the country. The state has been able to achieve this through joint consistent efforts of the Government, NGOs, Churches, VC/LC leaders and the public at large, he stated.

As per Technical Reports from Dr Lalramzauva, Director, Medical & Health Department, BCM and Pu Victor Lalrinawma Sailo, Director, Property Department BCM, civil works for the plant site commenced on 27th October, 2021 and was completed by December end, with equipment instllation completed in February 2022. The donated equipments cost a total of Rs. 150 lakhs, with an additional 43 lakhs installation related expenditure contributed jontly by BCM, and MLA Funds from South Tuipui, Lunglei North, Lunglei West, Lunglei East & Lunglei South ACs. It was also reported that efforts are already underway to acquire a Booster Pump that will enable oxygen produced to be filled in oxygen cylinders.

Lunglei HPC Vice Chairman Pu Lawmawma Tochhawng, Bamboo Development Board Vice Chairman Dr K Pachhunga, MYC Chairman Dr Vanlaltanpuia, Lunglei DC Pu Kulothungan A, Pu Thongsuanmang Vualnam, PATH, BCM & CHS staff and other officials were present at the inauguration.

Christian Hospital Serkawn (CHS) is a hospital-cum-nursing school at Serkawn, Lunglei, operated by the Baptist Church of Mizoram. Started in 1919, and formally established in 1923, it was the first hospital and nursing school in Mizoram. Apart from running the hospital and nursing school, the Baptist Church of Mizoram (BCM) has set up Baptist Covid Care Centre (BCCC), a healthcare facility set up by specifically to treat Covid-19 positive patients. It is located at Serkawn locality in Lunglei town, Lunglei District, and has the distinction of being the first and only privately run Covid Care Centre in Mizoram. The 23 bedded BCCC was inaugurated on the 28th of July, 2021, and has so far treated hundreds of Covid-19 positive patients. The centre is equipped with oxygen cylinders, concentrators & other related equipments, and is manned 24/7 by a team of one doctor and 4 nurses and 9 other staff members. With Government run Covid Care Centres stretched beyond their limits,the BCCC has offered a much needed augmentation of Covid-19 related healthcare resource for southern Mizoram.