Minister Pijush Hazarika urges Hailakandi DC to add 1500 more beds in COVID Care Centres, ensure presence of doctors

Minister of State, Health and Family Welfare, Government of Assam, Pijush Hazarika visited Hailakandi earlier today, to take stock of preparedness to fight the pandemic induced by the coronavirus outbreak. He has held meetings with the deputy commissioner, Megha Nidhi Dahal, District Health Department and other senior officials in the administration. Considering the steady rise in the number of cases in Hailakandi, the minister urged the DC to add at least 1500 beds to the COVID Care Centres.

The Minister also asked the deputy commissioner and the district health department to convert a few facility quarantine centres to COVID Care Unit so that there are enough beds available to treat the COVID positive patients. The government has made its reluctance clear when it comes to allowing home treatment to COVID positive patients and the minister emphasised the same in Hailakandi.

He added that the district health department must utilise all its resources to ensure there are doctors and paramedical staff available at the COVID Care Centres in the district. At the same time, the Hazarika urged the administration to provide quality food in a timely manner to the people placed under quarantine in the facilities.

At the outset, deputy commissioner of Hailakandi, Megha Nidhi Dahal briefed the minister about the current scenario of the district and he mentioned about lack of janitors, ambulances, ICU and ventilators. About the food, DC said that the district has planned to set up community kitchens, an idea that the Minister appreciated. DC Dahal made it clear that the district has 54 doctors and everyone will be on duty to ensure there is enough care available for the COVID positive patients.

Silchar MP Rajdeep Roy, local MLAs were also present in the meeting which Hazarika concluded by asking the district health department to provide Vitamin C and other immunity-boosting medicines to the COVID positive patients.