TURA: Health Minister AL Hek, accompanied by the Director of Health Services (MI), Dr. Aman War and in presence of Williamnagar MLA, Marcuise N Marak, Deputy Commissioner, Swapnil Tembe, Superintendent of Police, RTG Momin and the health officials, held a review meeting on COVID-19 preparedness in East Garo Hills at Williamnagar Circuit House on Monday.
During the meeting, Hek highlighted the role of health department in giving treatment to the migrant labourers and informed that funds from the MHIS can also be utilised to deal with emergency cases. To cope with the prevailing situation, he urged the District Health and medical Officer (DM&HO) to utilise the services of the ambulances belonging to churches and the NGOs. He also informed that t-shirts and caps will be provided to the volunteers very soon for easy identification by the authorities and urged the frontline workers not to panic.
Highlighting the role to be played by the districts in the fight against COVID-19, the DHS (MI), Dr. Aman War lauded and appreciated the steps taken by the DM&HO, Dr. Janulla K Marak and her team in collaboration with the district administration.
Informing about the steps taken by the health department to meet the needs of the prevailing situation, Dr. War said that the ventilators for the Garo Hills will be dispatched to Tura Civil Hospital next week from where the other hospitals in other districts may collect.
Hek added that PPEs, hand sanitisers, face masks, thermal scanners and others also will be sent to the districts next week.
Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner informed that training has been given medical volunteers and the Nokmas also have been sensitised about their role in the fight against the virus. According to him, five samples from the district, so far, have been sent and tested negative. Informing the formation of Incident Response Team (IRT) in all the C&RD blocks and Screening Points, he also highlighted the shortage of PPEs in the district.
After the review meeting, Hek also visited the corona care centre located at Denggagre locality of Williamnagar.
The same day, Hek also visited South Garo Hills District and reviewed the preparedness for the virus as well as inspected corona centre of Baghmara South Garo Hills and the isolation ward at Civil Hospital Baghmara.
While lauding the District Administration and the Medical Team of the District in particular for their commendable job in their preparation for curbing the COVID-19, he highlighted the need for registered volunteers in the district and said that they will be provided with the caps and Tshirts for quick identification.
He also informed that the Meghalaya Government has decided to give free medical treatment if the cases arise during the Lockdown and the funds from MHIS will be utilised for any medical emergency.
Director of Health services A.War while highlighting the roles and responsibilities of the Medical Department during such emergencies expressed his appreciation towards his Medical Team in containing the COVID-19 and also urged upon his team to not indulged in panic factor but asked them to remain strong stating how they deal with such situation will greatly reflect the Department.
Hek also informed that other basic equipments like ventilators, PPE’s, thermal scanners, oxygen cylinders will be provided to the district once he returned from his tour programme.
