Over 11,500 Oxygen Concentrators airlifted to Hyderabad in May
More than 11,500 units of Oxygen Concentrators have been airlifted to Hyderabad from different parts of the country and world since May 1.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 26 May 2021 7:21 AM GMT
Hyderabad: More than 11,500 units of Oxygen Concentrators have been airlifted to Hyderabad from different parts of the country and world since May 1.
The shipments have arrived on both scheduled flights as well as special charters at Hyderabad International Airport.
GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo (GHAC) has constituted a special task force comprising customs authorities, airlines, freight forwarders, and other stakeholders to ensure speedy clearance and handling of Covid relief material consignments.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, GHAC has seamlessly handled several freighters carrying Vaccines, medical equipment, and COVID relief material like PPE Kits, masks, sanitizers, etc.
GHIAL said it of late there has been a big surge in the movement of oxygen concentrators into Hyderabad to meet the medical demands due to the pandemic.
Recently, GHAC facilitated a large shipment of Oxygen Concentrators that were donated to the Telangana government by a private organization. KT Rama Rao, Minister for Municipal Administration & Urban Development, and Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, received them at the Cargo terminal.
Apart from Oxygen Concentrators, GHAC successfully handled two shipments of Sputnik V vaccines from Russia. 1.5 lakh doses on May 1st, which was the nation's first Sputnik V consignment, and 60,000 doses on May 16th, which required specialized handling and procedures to maintain temperature integrity (-20 deg. C).
Hyderabad region is set to be the single largest concentration of COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing capacities globally, with an estimated 3.6 billion doses of various makes of vaccines expected to be produced by facilities in the region over the next 18-24 months. Starting January 2021, GHAC has handled more than 100 tonnes of COVID vaccines that were distributed from Hyderabad to various parts of the country.
Gearing up to meet the anticipated surge in movement of COVID vaccines and relief material at Hyderabad, GHAC has been expanding its landside and airside facilities and streamlining processes to meet the unique requirements for vaccine shipments and temp-controlled pharmaceuticals.
The existing Pharma zone facility is being expanded to almost double the area and the capacities of all temperature zones viz. 15-25 degrees, 2-8 degrees, and -20 degrees Celsius are increased. It is also introducing a 'Cold Super Store' as part of the extended pharma zone to mitigate any temperature excursions during the unloading of pharma shipments.
