Mukul asked Govt to gear up medical facilities for Covid’s third wave

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 1, 2021

Raising alarm on imminent outbreak of the third wave of the COVID-19’s pandemic, Meghalaya Leader of Opposition Dr. Mukul Sangma on Tuesday urged the Meghalaya Government to gear up the medical manpower and medical facilities in the State of Meghalaya for tackling the pandemic.

Sangma told media persons after a ground zero inspection of the Dedicated COVID Hospital located in MCH Hospital, Panaliar, Jowai, and Corona Care Centre in St Aloysius Hospital, Ummulong and the Isolation Centres located in Chilliangraij and Ladthadlaboh.

He was accompanied by four Congress MLA namely Zenith Sangma, Shitlang Pale, Himalaya Shangpliang and Mohendro Rapsang. The Congress MLAs was joined by Deputy Commissioner West Jaintia Hills District Garod L S N Dykes, Director of Health Services Dr Aman War and District Medical & Health Officer, Jowai Dr. A C Ajar and others.

The MBBS Doctor turned politician hoped that piping of Oxygen line in the dedicated COVID Hospital, Jowai will be completed soon so that the burden of referring patients to Shillong is avoided.

The inadequate medical facilities in Jowai, which is the epicentre of Jaintia Hills, the former Chief Minister flayed the Government for its sluggish approach in providing the required support to the Health Department while adding that the support provided also in the verge of implementation. He also said that Shillong based hospitals are overburdened with cases from Ri Bhoi and Jaintia Hills due to the failure of Government in gearing up the existing medical facilities.

The past experiences indicated any diseases caused by virus tends to recur in waves after waves and presently they are being hit by the second wave of the COVID, the MBBS doctor turned politician said that the third wave of COVID-19 is imminent and therefore it is imperative on the part of the Government to pull up its socks as to prevent further loss of lives.

He further urged the Government to revamp the existing medical facilities with modern medical infrastructures and also to set up new medical facilities in places which are lagging behind for tackling any eventuality when the third wave hit the State.

He also exhorted the Government to recruit manpower and trained doctors who will be able to operate ventilators and also improve the existing manpower.

Stating that vaccination is a weapon to fight against the pandemic, the former chief minister said the government, therefore, has to ensure that the vaccination drive reaches to every nook and corner of the state.

The former Chief Minister lambasted the Central Government and the State Government for the shortage of COVID vaccines for several people in the age category of 18 to 44 years could not book their slot through online mode.

“If people talk and talk (it will not help) as action speaks louder than words. During our time, yes we create these infrastructures but at same time we simultaneously have to look at fulfilling the aspiration of our young men and women – therefore we need to ramp up our medical seats for the MBBS courses, PG courses, nurses courses,” he said.

“The chalta hai attitude cannot be the approach to deal with this kind of challenges…we need very serious, focus team of people who should be at the helms of affairs of governance and therefore whoever are in the helm of affairs of governance must be really committed, serious, focus and try to learn more and more and through that, one is capable of knowing multiple measures club together in a comprehensive manner to deal with these challenges,” he asserted.

 “…if you want to fight effectively to win the war then you must have the weapon and you must give the weapon as this war is not being fought by one individual, this war is to be fought collectively and only we do that, then only we will win. That is why the weapon has to be with everybody, that is why the vaccination has to ensure that it reaches every nook and corner without that you are going to fight without a weapon,” he said.