new delhi as a preparedness measure to counter a possible third wave of covid19 delhi government launched a twoweek certificate course for health assistants at guru gobind singh indraprastha university on mondayip university will train 5000 individuals in covidrelated care who will then be able to assist doctors and nurses in hospitals and also support their families and communities in medical emergencies the course was launched by deputy chief minister manish sisodia and health minister satyendar jain in the presence of kalkaji mla atishi and professors of the varsitythe first batch will have 500 trainees who will be equipped with the knowledge of life support heart functioning covid care blood testing sampling first aid home care etc nine hospitals have been roped in to provide basic training to the participants launching the course sisodia said we want to create a model youth force in delhi which will be equipped with all the basic skills and knowledge to fight any medical crisis not only will our youth be prepared to fight any crisis they will also be able to provide medical assistance to their family and people in their community this course will also be able to provide individuals with employment opportunities considering there is an increasing need of health assistants in hospitals said jainip university vicechancellor mahesh verma said that the initiative was being taken in the wake of the shortage of medical staff witnessed during the earlier waves of the pandemic they will be trained in basic nursing paramedical lifesaving first aid home care sample collection oxygen concentrators cylinder operations and other such tasks