300-bed Corona hospital to be built near veterinary in Silchar

The Assam Government will make 300 bedded makeshift hospital at Silchar exclusively for corona patients, state Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Saturday here at Silchar. He said the Hospital will be ready in the next three months and it is an arrangement made keeping the recent Corona outbreak. The hospital will be built next to the veterinary hospital located near Juramandir area in Gunghoor. Sarma said that the hospital will be constructed in a manner that solves its purpose for the next five years.

DC Cachar had spotted land in the Udharbond area for the Hospital and Sarma along with others were supposed to visit that place for inspection. However, as informed by Dr. Bhaskar Gupta, the team of ministers and others decided to construct the hospital near the Veterinary hospital in Ghungoor.

During the press conference, Sarma warned the people of Barak Valley to remain cautious under all circumstances. “Barak Valley does not have adequate resources, modern healthcare facilities, nurses and doctors. Barak Valley is not Mumbai or Delhi and those developed, well-equipped cities are finding it difficult to figure it out. If Coronavirus infection reaches Barak Valley, it will be very difficult for us to save lives,” cautioned Sarma.

Silchar Medical College and Hospital will also be declared as a full COVID hospital and a load of general patients will be distributed among different private hospitals and nursing homes. An MoU was also inked between Assam Government and 21 private hospitals in this regard.

Himanta Biswa Sharma announced that no one was allowed to enter the state after March 24. According to WHO guidelines, the symptoms of the virus are detected within 14 days of infection. So till April 8, the scenario will be clear as to how many are infected assessed Sarma. But he believes that the state should remain prepared for the worst situation and therefore preparations are being made on war-footing.

Under the MoU signed, general patients can avail treatment at private hospitals at government prices by showing various government health cards.

On the issue of availability of essential commodities during this lockdown period, Sarma said that an adequate supply of food items is maintained in the markets and there is no reason to panic. However, he urged everyone to stay away from fish and meat as there is no fresh supply of such commodities in the market and consumption of the old imported fish may lead to food-poisoning which will increase the load on the health infrastructure.

In the press conference, the health minister was joined by Forest and excise minister Parimal Suklabaidya, Silchar MP Rajdeep Roy, Cachar DC Barnali Sharma.