Expressing deep concern on the supposed lack of adequate healthcare facilities to fight against Covid-19 in the district, the Ri-Bhoi District Congress Committee (RBDCC) submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today.
The committee, led by MLAs Mayralborn Syiem and George B Lyngdoh, also submitted a copy of the memo to the Deputy Commissioner of the district, RM Kurbah, urging her to take up the matters with the state government.
The Congress asked the state government to set up at least one Covid hospital in Ri-Bhoi before the arrival of the potential third wave of Covid-19, to set up an intensive care unit (ICU) at Nongpoh Civil Hospital and also to provide more anaesthetists trained in handling ventilators and personnel able to manage oxygen plants as well as financial support for community isolation centres.
The Congress also urged the government to consider increasing the honorarium paid to accredited social health activists (ASHAs) up to Rs 5,000 per month as they are grassroots warriors in the fight against the pandemic.
It also asked the government to consider providing financial support to the poorest sections of society and release more money to the rural employment guarantee scheme (MGNREGS) projects.
“The Congress Party will not remain a mere spectator to the hardships and problems of the local people during this pandemic,” Syiem said. “Being one of the responsible political parties in the state, we urged the state government to be well-equipped in fighting Covid-19.”
