HNLC urges all political parties to unite against COVID-19

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 30, 2020

 The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has urged all political parties to join hands together to combat against COVID-19 (coronavirus disease).

“All the political parties should forget their differences and should come and join hands together to fight this menace. This is a war like situation and we should be prepared for any kind of eventuality,” HNLC general secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said in a statement issued here on Monday.

He said COVID-19 and nationwide lockdown has become a household name in the entire country, including the urban as well as the rural areas.

Referring to Italy and Spain and other parts of the world, he said COVID-19 is spreading like a wild fire and it shall engulf us very soon adding this is a matter of grave concern and every citizen every individual should be sensitized about this issue.

Pointing out to the state Meghalaya, the HNLC leader said the first priority should be the health workers including the doctors, nurses and all the people involved.

He said at present our state does not have the high end protective gears which are required for Covid 19 cases adding many of our doctors and nurses  are still using the ordinary equipments.

“We have less amount of hospitals and the numbers are pathetic in the rural areas. More than eight thousand people who have returned back to the state from the affected cities have been tested and quarantined as per govt reports. But how far can we rely upon these tests? If at all even ten people are Covid 19 positive out of the eight thousand we are doomed. Many people can be asymptomatic and even carry the virus as a host. This is a matter of utmost concern,” Nongtraw said

He said first of all the government should procure testing kits and tests should  be done from house to house and village to village basis with the help of the dorbar shnongs and other traditional bodies.

“The second is to make all the health workers well equipped with ventilators, oxygen supply and N95 masks, protective gears before the outbreak of COVID-19,” Nongtraw said as he urged the government to also come up with quarantine centres which are far from habitation so as to avoid in the further spreading of the virus.