SHILLONG: The MLA and MDC of Nongkrem, Lambor Malngiang has urged the Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma and Health and Family Welfare minister, A.L. Hek to take the issue of COVID-19 seriously in view of the shortcomings and the delay in conducting tests.
“There are shortcomings and I am not blaming anyone but then as I see it, there are many flaws. We have been talking about isolation centers, testing kits which are still absent and I have found with my own eyes that the system in place to contain COVID-19 spread is not well equipped”, he said.
Malngiang was aghast when he came to know that nurses and pharmacists working in Bethany Hospital who wanted to get themselves tested for COVID-19 at COVID Care Unit in Civil Hospital, Shillong have to wait for hours – from 3 pm to 11 pm and no one took notice from the authorities.
“The staff of Bethany Hospital informed me that they were made to stay outside and no one asked them anything. They were not allowed to use the washroom also”, he said.
Malngiang was angry as he wanted to take them to MATI, Mawdiangdiang but came to know there is no water supply and decided to not take them there.
He questioned if the State Health Department was capable of taking care of several people when it cannot do so with 7 people and added that it was a deterrent to those people who want to get tested for Covid-19.
“Shillong is not prepared let alone the other districts, why is the service being delayed?” Malngiang said.