Some local bodies in the district, despite recording a number of COVID-19 cases within their limits, are finding it difficult to get first-line treatment centres (FLTCs) up and running.
For Ayavana panchayat, which had seen 78 COVID-19 cases since July, beds were set up at a school after the district administration issued orders that all local bodies must get an FLTC ready, said panchayat president Reby Jose. But, the centre is still awaiting staff appointments from the Health Department. The idea of running an FLTC on the limited financial resources of a panchayat was daunting, he said.
“We received ₹1 lakh from the State government for the facility, and have already spent about ₹6 lakh from the panchayat’s own fund. Helpers and other staff like ambulance drivers will have to be paid for by the panchayat. It is hardly practical to begin operations of an FLTC in every…