Agatha inaugurates 108 ambulance and molecular lab at Tura civil hospital

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 9, 2020

In a bid to ensure various facilities to the people while tackling COVID-19 pandemic in the region, 108 Ambulance was launched and handed over to Tura Civil Hospital and Molecular Laboratory for COVID-19 Testing was inaugurated simultaneously by the Member of the Parliament, Tura Parliamentary Constituency, Agatha K Sangma in the presence of Adviser to the Chief Minister, Government of Meghalaya and MLA North Tura, Thomas A Sangma. West Garo Hills, Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh, Superintendent of Police, Dr M G R Kumar, Director of Health Services (MI), Meghalaya Shillong, Dr Aman Warr, Joint Director, Garo Hills Division and Superintendent, Tura Civil Hospital, Dr Minakshi A Sangma, District Medical and Health Officer, Dr Marwin Sangma were among others who attended the programme.

Appreciating the initiative of the Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma and all those persons who have contributed generously for the Chief Minister’s COVID-19 Relief fund, Agatha Sangma stated that the 108 Ambulance was procured under the Chief Minister’s COVID-19 Relief Fund which would be used for COVID-19 patients in the district. Reiterating that the pandemic is going to remain and not likely to end very soon and that the lockdown period may need to be lifted for various purposes, she therefore, urged everyone to adapt to certain behavioural changes that have taken place all over the world including our region and to continue to follow various advisories like personal hygiene, maintaining social distancing, always wearing of mask, etc for the safety and security of everyone.

Further, she mentioned that the situation even though is uncertain has given ample opportunity to spend time with family members and also to bring out the goodness among people and help each other in time of crisis. Looking forward to the most important role to be played by the medical fraternity at this moment since it deals with saving lives of the people she extended her full support and cooperation with whatever resources or facilities available for tackling the pandemic in the region in a proper manner. Moreover, she reminded that people need to come closer to the Almighty God and pray to overcome any kind of the situation in the coming days.

Advisor to the Chief Minister, Government of Meghalaya, Thomas A Sangma also expressed his gratitude with regard to the hard work and dedication of all comprising of Chief Minister along with his Cabinet colleagues, Health Officials, District Administration, Police personnel and all those involved in tackling the pandemic in the region. Stating that during his earlier visit to the hospital there was not much preparedness to handle the situation, but now the hospital is fully equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), ambulance, laboratory, isolation ward, etc among others to tackle COVID-19 cases in future.

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Further, he urged everyone not to stigmatise or discriminate people, but to come together and understand and support each other in our effort to prevent the spread of the disease in the region.

In his speech, the Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh has stated that about 8 numbers of ambulances have been given to Garo Hills region out of which 2 numbers is for Tura Civil Hospital while one each for Holy Cross and Christian Hospital, Tura.

Meanwhile, the Director of Health Services (MI), Meghalaya Shillong Aman Warr informed that the COVID-19 samples can now be tested here in Tura Civil Hospital since TRUNAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) is already functional and screening can be done here itself.

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Further, it may be mentioned that Dr. Elim Marak, MD (Microbiology) and his assistant incharge Dr. Sengnachi Sangma MD (Microbiology) along with technical assistants will be working in the laboratory for COVID-19 Testing at Tura Civil Hospital. As informed by Dr Elim Marak once the samples are tested positive, it will be confirmed by RTPCR which is still under process of installation and will be functional very soon after which it can be tested here as of now the samples are being sent to NEIGRIMS, Shillong adding that once installed maximum of 6 numbers of samples can be tested in TRUNAT in one day while in RTPCR 50 samples can be done in one day.

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The Chief Guest and other Dignitaries also released the Information Booklet on Novel Corona Virus COVID-19 during the programme which was published and printed by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Meghalaya Shillong. The leaflet has been printed in English, Garo, Khasi and Hindi languages for better understanding of the people of the region.