COVID-19: Hek urges Centre to increase testing facilities

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 24, 2020

State’s health minister AL Hek on Friday sought the intervention of the Centre for increasing the testing facilities in the state for effectively tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I have urged the Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan to consider increasing the testing facilities in the state,” Hek said after attending a meeting chaired  by Dr Vardhan with all health ministers through video conferencing. 

The state health minister said that he has proposed setting up of one more testing facility at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) and one at Tura, West Garo Hills District. 

“This will go a long way in helping the government to effectively combat against the spread of the COVID-19,” he said. 

At present, NEIGRIHMS is having a capacity to test 100 samples per day. The government had recently informed that one more additional machine would be soon installed at the NEIGRIHMS, which would enhanced its testing capacity to 180 per day.

Asked, Hek said that the union health minister has assured to look into the request made by the state government. 

Also Read | COVID-19’s testing facilities in NEIGRIHMS insufficient, Thapa told Sangma

Hek also informed Dr Vardhan that the state government has been able to contain the spread of the virus. 

“I have brief the union minister that we have only East Khasi Hills District, which has been categorized as a red zone area and that all positive cases recorded so far was only from one source,” he said. 

The state health minister also expressed concern over the problem of social stigamatization against COVID-19 patients and primary contacts.

“We need to control panic which is overtaking the coronavirus pandemic as this has led to social stigmatization against postive patients and also those identified as primary contacts. This is very serious and necessary measures have to be taken,” he asserted. 

Meanwhile, Hek said that all frontline workers are well prepared and direction have been given to ensure all necessary requirements including PPEs are despatched to all healthcare centres across the state in time.