TURA: Health Minister AL Hek on Tuesday reviewed the level of preparedness in South West Garo Hills in a 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, Ampati SP Rituraj Ravi, Joint DHS, Dr. MA Sangma and district health officials.
While reviewing the preparedness and requirements of the Health department in the district, Hek urged upon the authorities not to wait for directions 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 equipment 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 migrant 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 Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) by making emergency registration under COVID-19.
Expressing his satisfaction on the overall position of the district in the fight against COVID-19, the health minister said all frontline workers must be confident, strong and 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 since 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.
The Director of Health Services (MI), Dr Aman War, while commending the level of preparations in all the districts in general, said it was unfortunate that one positive case has been detected in the state despite all precautionary measures taken to avert any outbreak in the state.
He also informed that all requirements like PPE, hand sanitisers, face masks, thermal scanners, etc., would be ready by next week. Answering to a query posed by Deputy Commissioner Ch Ramakrishna with regard to availability of adequate oxygen cylinders, Dr War assured 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 in Walbakgre. The property, belonging to the Diocese of Tura, has 136 beds with other amenities, which was set up by the district administration.
The centre, which is located at the outskirt, is ideal for confining people infected with coronavirus as the property itself is located at an isolated place with not many dwelling houses around and the ambience being serene and cool. Speaking in Tura, Hek expressed his satisfaction for the overall preparedness put in by the district administration of West Garo Hills and termed the facilities at the Pastoral Centre as “well-organised” and offered his heartfelt gratitude to Bishop Andrew R Marak, who is the head of the Tura Diocese.
Dr War, who accompanied the health minister, informed that more PPE as well as highly efficient N-95 masks will be made available to health workers of Garo Hills who are engaged in the battle against the pandemic.
Hek, who was earlier scheduled to meet district officials for reviewing the preparedness in West Garo Hills, cancelled the meeting in order to be able to participate in an emergency cabinet meeting at Shillong, in view of a state doctor testing positive for COVID-19.
