TURA: Meghalaya’s Minister of Food & Civil Supplies, James K Sangma on Sunday visited South Garo Hills District to review the prevailing situation in view of the outbreak of the Coronavirus in the country. Sangma was accompanied by the local MLA Samuel M Sangma, Rakkam A Sangma MLA Rongara Siju Constituency and Council MDC Sengnal N Sangma.
South Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner H.B.Marak informed the Minister about the overall preparedness of the district for containment of the spread of COVID-19 and said that the District had set up isolation wards at newly constructed Dabitbibra Nursing Home which consists of 18 beds and that other PHCs and CHC’s have also identified to be transformed into isolation centers.
He said that the district was facing acute shortage of basic necessities like Ambulance, ventilators and N-19 mask. Besides, he added that Mock Drills had also been conducted twice in the Civil Hospital to familiarized the frontline workers to tackle the situation that may arise. Marak also informed that Public Distribution System of the district was working hard in providing essential commodities to all parts of the District.
The Superintendent of Supply informed that there was a shortage of Dal, Atta, Rice and Oil in the district but said that hopefully, it would be available within two or three days time.
Superintendent of Police Priyanshu Pandey, IP,S while briefing the Minister sought for immediate arrangement for N-95 mask for the police personnel on duty, hand sanitizers and also raised the need to disinfect public places and market areas.
District Surveillance Officer Dr Jacob Broney Marak while informing the Minister about the present scenario said that the district has 56 students and workers from outside the State who were asked to undergo home quarantine but lamented that the district had to manage with limited resources and would not be able to curb the problem if the situation worsens.
After listening to the concerns raised, James urged upon the district administration and the Frontline Workers to continue with the same spirit in curbing the spread of Coronavirus in the district as a team and to never feel complacent. He also assured that the shortage of Atta, Dal, Rice and Oil in the District and the State as a whole, will be stabilized within two or three days time.
James also asked the Department of Information & Public Relations Baghmara to continuously create awareness on the importance of social distancing and to inform about food supplies to all the localities through announcement so that the people will not resort to panic buying.