NONGPOH: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought together all politicians in the district cutting across party lines.
The elected representatives of Ri Bhoi, including the MLAs and MDCs, on Saturday joined hands in the fight against the pandemic. The leaders visited the COVID-19 check point at Tamulkuchi, 13th Mile, to inspect the set-up and check requirements.
The district has not reported any positive case.
The representatives who visited Tamulkuchi were George B Lyngdoh (Umroi MLA), Mayralborn Syiem (Nongpoh MLA), Jason Sawkmie Mawlong (Umsning MLA), Sosthenes Sohtun (Jirang MLA), Dasakhiatbha Lamare (Mawhati MLA) and MDCs that include Charles Marngar (Mawhati), Victor Rani (Jirang) and Balajied Rani (Nongpoh).
They interacted with the district administration and health officials. A memorandum was sent to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma seeking his intervention in providing the requirements at the check point.
These include providing two ambulances for any immediate medical attention, especially if someone has tested positive for COVID-19. Deployment of additional manpower at the check point was also sought.
“At present, the service of staff from various administrative departments of Ri Bhoi have been utilised to man the check point. With the opening of administrative services, the staff would have to return to their regular duties. Therefore, there is a need for additional manpower from other adjoining district to assist Ri Bhoi District Administration in manning the checkpoint,” the memorandum stated.
With Ri Bhoi being the gateway to the state with numerous border entry points, the leaders also sought deployment of additional police personnel and home guard personnel to assist the district police.
They pointed out that the current makeshift cubicles do not have enough space to segregate the visitors and to maintain social distancing as a precautionary measure, re-enforcement and improvement of the makeshift cubicles should be thought of.
Speaking to media persons after the visit, the Jirang MLA expressed his gratitude to all the frontline workers, including the district administration of Ri Bhoi, health workers and police personnel.
Stating that the visit was also part of supporting them, Sohtun urged the public and village leaders to cooperate with the government.
“This is the time that we have to stand united and together. We can prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the district and the state,” Sohtun said.
As the frontline workers at the check point do not have any personal protective equipment, Sohtun said kits should be provided to them at the earliest, adding that they would speak to the government.
The Nongpoh MLA informed that he spoke the chief minister and the health minister on phone about the requirement of 108 ambulances and they “assured that these will be provided in a day or two”.
