Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem has described the state government’s assurance of a dedicated Covid-19 hospital in Ri-Bhoi as a “false promise” as the plan has still yet to come to fruition deep into the second wave.
The government had planned to convert the near-complete Maternity and Child Health Hospital at Umran Niangbyrnai near here to one dedicated to Covid care but it has yet to be operationalised.
Ri-Bhoi is the second worst-affected district in Meghalaya, with over 6,000 Covid-19 infections, of which 901 are active cases.
“The assurance given by the Chief Minister and Health Minister to convert the MCH Hospital into a Covid-19 hospital was indeed much welcome, but all the promises were not fulfilled and the timeframe given by the government to make the hospital functional by June 15 has gone as the infrastructure is not ready,” the opposition Congress legislator told the media today.
A dedicated facility to treat serious Covid cases is needed right now and will certainly be needed if the expected third wave of the coronavirus hits the district, he added.
