Meghalaya to soon get 11 new ambulances

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 14, 2021

The state is all set to get 11 ambulances with life support for effectively tackling the second wave of COVID-19.

“I am happy to inform you that through the Ministry of DoNER, we will be getting 11 ambulances with life support,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters after a review meeting convened by the Assembly Speaker on Monday.

He was reacting to the concerns expressed by the opposition Congress over the absence of ambulances with advanced life-saving support systems in the state despite the ongoing pandemic.

Conrad Sangma said that the focus on life support was not there during the fight against the first wave of COVID-19 as it was more of transportation of people and the state was not seeing so many serious cases which needed oxygen support.

“…so that was the time that we invested in ambulances just to ensure that the transportation took place. So most of the ambulances that came in were in the first phase, so now the ambulances that we are bringing, we will ensure they all have the life-support system also,” he assured.

Asked, the chief minister said that each ambulance would cost around Rs 25 lakh.

Earlier, Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma said that there is no ambulance with an advanced life saving support system in all the districts of the state.

He said that in view of this, the opposition has demanded the state government to provide ambulances with an advanced life saving support system so that sufferings and loss of precious lives can be minimized to a large extent.

“The government has promised that some more new ambulances with life saving support systems will be purchased for every district,” Mukul Sangma added.

When asked on the financial position of the state to deal with the pandemic, the chief minister said funds are not enough but it is about managing the funds in the right perspective.

“…it is not enough but it is about managing things, investing in the right things when it is needed the most at the right time. Therefore, we are trying to realize that investing in oxygen and oxygen plants, investing in ICU beds, investing in medications – all these aspects are very critical right now, the manpower – so all these things are what we are focusing on,” he added.