Union DONER Minister G Kishan Reddy has advised the North East states to utilise the unspent balances allocated to them under NESIDS Scheme and the Emergency Covid Response Package (ECRP-Phase-II) for creation of health infrastructure in the states.
He also stressed that funds released by the Union Health Ministry to North East states to tackle Covid-19 should be utilised on priority for augmentation of medical infrastructure by establishing field hospitals and oxygen supported beds along with establishment of other medical setups, etc.
Reddy was speaking at a review meeting held virtually today to monitor the preparedness of the eight states of the North East region with respect to the Covid-19 situation.
The meeting was attended by the respective health ministers of the eight North East states. Health Secretaries from the North East states along with senior officials of both the ministries and their organisations were also present.
Reddy called on all the state health ministers to develop medical and health infrastructure, procure medicines and procure Covid-19 specific essentials such as masks, PPE kits and oxygen concentrators etc.
He also urged the states to use all media and communication channels to bring awareness about the third wave due to the Omicron variant.
The union minister directed for a periodic review to monitor the Covid scenario in the North East region and assured to take up state specific issues with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for early redressal.
During the meeting, Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also presented state specific observations and requested individual states to prioritise based on the specific issues highlighted for the respective states.
Brief presentations were given by the eight North East states on the steps taken by them to strengthen the monitoring and containment mechanism, measures taken to enforce the norms of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, testing of Omicron variant, status of buffer stocks of essential drugs, status of beds (normal, oxygen and ventilators) and functionality of oxygen supply equipment.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also shared major initiatives and programmes being undertaken in the health sector to tackle Covid-19 for North East states.
