TURA: Meghalaya Health Minister, A.L. Hek reviewed the level of preparedness for the eventuality of COVID-19 outbreak in South West Garo Hills at a review meeting held at Ampati Circuit House in the presence of local Legislator Miani D. Shira, DHS (MI) Shillong, Dr. Aman War, Deputy Commissioner, Ch. Ramakrishna, SP, Ampati, Rituraj Ravi, Joint DHS, Dr. M.A. Sangma and district health officials on Tuesday morning.
While reviewing the preparedness and requirements of the Health department in the district, the Health Minister urged upon the health authorities not to wait for directions or permissions from higher ups for any emergency requirements that can be taken care of with resources available in the district but to go forward with help and support of the District Administration. However for other necessary logistics and equipments required for combating COVID-19, he has asked the district health authorities to make a list of requirements and send so that arrangements can be made for procuring them accordingly.
Regarding, the migrants labourers or students who may be stranded in the district during the lockdown, the Health Minister said that they should not be denied any kind of treatment or emergency assistance and their expenses should be met with funds from MHIS by making emergency registration under COVID-19. Expressing his satisfaction on the overall position of the district in the fight against COVID-19 he spoke words of encouragement saying all frontline workers must be confident, strong and be ready to face any situation or eventuality.
Local MLA, Miani D. Shira also raised certain concerns like the shortage of doctors in the district and the need for giving proper information to the general public as to where patients with general ailments should go as Ampati Civil Hospital has been designated as COVID-19 hospital, while Betasing PHC is being used for general patients. As there is shortage of doctors, we also need to ensure that they too are given proper care, protection and security including suitable living quarters, she said.
DHS (MI), Dr. Aman War, while commending the level of preparations in all the districts in general, said it was unfortunate that one positive case for COVID-19 has been detected in the state despite all precautionary measures taken for containment of the virus. He also informed that all requirements like PPEs, hand sanitizers, face masks, thermal scanners would be ready by next week and asked the district authorities to send a vehicle to collect them.
Answering to a query posed by Deputy Commissioner, Ch Ramakrishna regarding availability of adequate oxygen cylinders, Dr. Aman War gave his assurance on the matter stating that there would not be any shortage as the DHS was adequately stocked.
Later, Hek also made a stopover at Tura in West Garo Hills and inspected the Corona Virus Centre isolation facility set up by the District administration at Pastoral Centre, behind the Holy Cross Hospital in Walbakgre.