Govt asks traditional institutions to activate CCMCs, BCMCs to tackle against COVID-19

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 13, 2021

The state government has asked all traditional institutions and their heads to activate the Community COVID-19 Management Committees (CCMCs) and Behavioural Change Management Committees (BCMCs) formed during the last year.

This was in view of the sharp spike in coronavirus cases owing to the new variants and mutations of the SARS-COV-2 Virus, there has been an unprecedented increase in the number of COVID-19 cases across the world.

According to Secretary incharge Health and Family Welfare department Sampath Kumar, Meghalaya has also witnessed sudden increase in the number of COVID-19 cases since past two weeks.

He said this calls for an urgent attention on the part of every single person to take steps to contain the spread of this highly infectious COVID-19 virus.

Kumar said the CCMCs and BCMCs are also asked to have frequent meetings adding each committee is to chart an action plan to manage the spread of the second wave of the pandemic.

The CCMC and BCMC meetings are to focus on two key messages for community sensitization:

“Importance of vaccination as the first line of protection is to be stressed upon. Messages are to be spread to sensitise people at community and local levels about the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 virus. Focus is to be laid on how vaccination will help to lower the severity of the effects of COVID-19 virus and also decrease the chances of fatality.

It is critical at this point of time to not be complacent and follow COVID appropriate behaviour which includes: Wearing a mask all the time in public spaces and maintaining respiratory etiquette, practicing hand hygiene by frequently sanitizing and washing hands and maintaining social distancing in public spaces,” he said.

The health official also requested the general public to be responsible and adhere to the behavioural change management protocols while upholding COVID appropriate behaviour.

This can happen when every person treats themselves as an asymptomatic carrier of the COVID-19 virus and follows the three recommended health practices laid down by the State Health Department.

“As a State, we have performed well so far in tackling the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

And this has all been made possible through the active support of each and every person- the community in general and each and every person in particular who have, time and again, adhered to the health advisories issued from time to time.

It is time now to again work together to contain this highly infectious variant of the COVID-19 virus and not become complacent. Few simple and responsible actions by everyone will go a long way in saving many lives,” Kumar stated.