Tura MP reviews plan of action to handle COVID-19 situation in GH

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 7, 2020

In view of the arrival of students and others in West Garo Hills district and Garo Hills region from other parts of North Eastern States, the Member of Parliament, Agatha Sangma in the presence of Members of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Thomas A Sangma, Brening Sangma and Marcuise Marak held a meeting with the District Administration and Members of COVID-19 Management Committee today at Circuit House, Tura to oversee the situation and the check plan of action taken in their respective districts.

Speaking during the meeting, Agatha Sangma said that the meeting is to bring better coordination between all political representatives with district administration in order to work together and take necessary steps for those who have arrived from other places of North East region. She also mentioned that the respective public representatives can play an important role in strengthening the IEC activities including sensitizing of the Nokmas, Church leaders, who in turn can further sensitize other people in their respective areas and urged the people not to stigmatise those returning to their homes saying that they are not carriers of the disease and are being quarantine as per instructions.

Stating that various activities have been relaxed after the complete lockdown in various areas for economic reasons, she said that people need to be more careful since movement of individuals and essential commodities are taking place and therefore, urged the people not think that the disease has ended here, but continue to maintain social distancing, personal hygiene and other necessary advisories issued by the Ministry of Health department.

Chief Advisor to the Chief Minister and MLA North Tura, Thomas A Sangma while discussing during the meeting said that proper coordination with the political representatives and district administration is necessary in order to sensitize the people about the disease and said that information somehow is not reaching the rural masses which needs to be addressed keeping in mind the safety and security of the people in the region. Stating that Garo people are by nature very social, and therefore, he said that socializing of the people especially in rural areas needs to be restricted and explain to them about the importance of social distancing in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

Participating in the discussion, Marcuise Marak, MLA, Rongrengre Constituency said that similar activities are being conducted in East Garo Hills district and cited the case of fleeing of student who was under quarantine since he already has been in quarantine for 30 days in his previous place of study and urged the concerned authority to look into such cases.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills Ram Singh informed that at the moment the district administration is focusing mainly on the issue of transmission of the disease in town areas since the people live in close proximity and population is also more in these area as compared to the rural areas. Moreover, he has requested those who have houses in their respective villages to stay for sometime in their village till the containment of the disease or situation becomes better.

With regard to the arrival of about 700 people coming from outside the state,  he informed that proper registration, screening centre has been set up at Bajendoba and Tikrikilla and ISBT and added that all these persons have been shifted to their homes for home quarantine while few others at community quarantine centres in their respective localities. Inspite of identifying various institutions and hotels for corona care and quarantine centres in the district, he informed that quarantine centres are of limited capacity which will be catering only for those positive case patients, and therefore, people coming from outside the state have to be quarantined in their homes and those who do not have required facility have to stay in community quarantine facilities in their locality, he informed.

Further, he mentioned that asymptomatic cases are very difficult to dealt with in the present situation and urged those in quarantine to strictly follow the norms even though it may seem tedious, but all for the safety and security of all in the district. He also urged anyone having flu like symptoms not to fear and get themselves checked and avail necessary treatment as early as possible and should not to wait for the last stage when treatment may seem impossible or can also prove to be fatal in nature.

Member of the COVID-19 Management Committee, Reverend Frithing D Sangma, Pastor Hawakhana Baptist Church, Tura also said that they have come across those cases where people of the locality have resisted those coming from outside and added that they have managed to convinced them and settled with the people of the locality.