COVID claims another life in West Garo Hills

A 46-year-old man, who was tested Covid-19 positive died in West Garo Hills District on Friday.

This was informed by Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh after reviewing the Covid scenario in the state.

“A death has occurred in West Garo Hills. He (the deceased patient) came very late to the hospital,” Lyngdoh told reporters.

She however said, “Whether or not this one case was a case of death due to Covid directly or was it because of some other comorbidity status of the patient will be ascertain at the earliest.”

The minister also requested people to reach out to the nearest facility if they feel that their symptoms are way beyond their redressal as early detection and redressal of the problem is very important.

As of today, the death toll due to Covid in Meghalaya is over 1626.

Lyngdoh also informed that the death audit committee is already in place and said, “We will ensure that we will send all details to the audit committee to ensure whether or not it was a direct Covid related death.”

Stating that the government do not want to panic the public, the minister however said in the event of this one case, the government would like to take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the disease.

As on Friday, the state has a total of 17 active Covid cases of which 10 are in West Garo Hills, 5 in East Khasi Hills and 2 in West Jaintia Hills.

Also stating that Covid cases are well under control, Lyngdoh said that there has been no sign that this would take a pandemic situation again adding that “we feel that this is not going to happen but nevertheless one death has occurred, we thought that we should share this with you.”

She further announced that the health department has requested for immediate implementation of all precautionary measures and said, “We request the public at large to kindly adhere to Covid practices so that we may be able to contain the situation and ensure that it does not become a problem. Please wear masks in crowded places, cough with etiquette, wash your hands, use sanitisers.

People with symptoms like cough, fever, sore throat, loss of taste, smell, breathlessness or other respiratory symptoms should immediately reach out to the first testing centres. Testing centres are made available at all block levels, all tertiary care centres will have all these facilities.”

The minister also assured that the state is in a prepared stage to tackle the Covid situation in the state and said people coming from areas with high positivity rate are requested to take personal precautionary measures which include self-isolation.

With regards to the availability of vaccines in Meghalaya, Lyngdoh informed that a meeting will be chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday next, to take a call on the matter.

“Now, the policy on vaccines will be again taken up on Monday when the chief minister will also be available to advise us accordingly, we will then give further information as to what will be the stand of this government on the vaccines,” she said while informing that the Government of India had already indicated it is not going to provide any vaccines and that vaccines or ‘the third dose or booster dose’ will have to be procured by the state.

The minister said, “Covid vaccine is a voluntary decision taken by the citizens. We cannot push or force doses on citizens until and unless they so wish to. So we leave it to the public to decide that is why we are yet to take a call as to what will be the formula that the government would propose. We will be sitting with the chief minister on Monday and we will have a better detail for you at that point of time.”

She however maintained that the covid vaccine has never been made compulsory for the public and that it is purely voluntary on the part of the citizens.

If the government will impose some restrictions on inter-district movement, the minister said, “I don’t want to jump the gun and presume that this situation will completely get out of hand. We will not take any immediate decision but appropriate precautionary measures have been advised to all citizens across the board.”

Meanwhile, the minister also informed that there has been no new variant detected in the cases registered in the state.

“Everything remains the same. Covid is Covid. The variant also remains the same variant, there has been no identification of a new variant or a new type of Covid that will require additional protocol,” she added.

According to her, only few patients out of 17 are being hospitalized and kept in the isolation ward but nobody is being admitted in the ICU.

State facing shortage of medicines

The District Medical & Health Officer of East Khasi Hills Dr A Lyngdoh has admitted that there is shortage of medicines at present due to a transition of procurement of drugs in the state.

This was stated in an action taken report in connection with the treatment of typhoid fever cases at Shella PHC and Ichamati CHC sent to the HYC general secretary Roykupar Synrem here.

This came after the HYC had written to the DM&HO for providing adequate medicines in the two health centres for the treatment of typhoid fever and to conduct investigation into the causes of such disease.

“There is a shortage of medicines at present since there is a transition of procurement of drugs from the state to the newly constituted corporation viz Meghalayan Medical Drugs & Services Limited (MMDSL). We are hereby submitting to the DHS (MI)/MMDSL the list of drugs that are required to combat the current crisis,” Dr Lyngdoh said in the action taken report.

She also informed that a team from the IDSP cell will be visiting Shella on April 28, to conduct an investigation for verification of the cases and identifying the source of illness.

A letter has been issued to all facilities including Shella & Ichamati to conduct awareness programmes on the symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention of the diseases, Dr Lyngdoh added.

Meghalaya among 27 states to get new nursing colleges

Meghalaya will be one of the 27 states selected for the establishment of new nursing colleges.

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In a significant move towards strengthening nursing workforce in the country, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of 157 new nursing colleges in co-location with the existing medical colleges established since 2014.

One of the 157 new nursing colleges will be established in Meghalaya.

The step will add approximately 15,700 nursing graduates every year.

This will further ensure quality, affordable, and equitable nursing education in India, particularly in underserved districts and States/Union Territories. The total financial implication will be Rs 1,570 crore.

The initiative aims to address the geographical and rural-urban imbalances in the healthcare sector, which have led to the skewed availability of nursing professionals and impacted healthcare services in underserved areas. The establishment of these nursing colleges will provide a significant boost to the availability of qualified human resources in healthcare.

This is also being done as a part of the national mandate for Universal Health Care (UHC) and will help in attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Reforms in regulatory structure for Nursing education to meet with the emerging requirements in the sector are also under consideration.

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) also collaborates with leading International & National agencies for skill development and placement of qualified nurses for overseas positions.

Co-location of these nursing colleges with existing medical colleges will allow optimal utilization of the existing infrastructure, skill labs, clinical facilities, and faculty.

This initiative is expected to provide better clinical exposure to nursing students and will also result in better care and service provision for patients in medical colleges. Use of green technologies will also be explored in these Nursing colleges and will be adopted as per relevancy to ensure energy efficiency and reduction in carbon footprint.

The Government plans to complete the project within next two years and has laid out detailed timelines for every stage of planning as well as execution of the project.

The Empowered Committee headed by the Union Health Secretary in the Centre and Principal Secretary, Health or Medical Education in the States will monitor the progress of the work.

The State Government/UTs will intimate to MoHFW on regular basis, the physical progress of the works being done for the establishment of new nursing colleges under the scheme.

There has been a tremendous focus of this government to ensure quality healthcare workforce with a substantial increase in their numbers. The Government has increased number of medical colleges and subsequently increased MBBS seats in last few years. There is a substantial increase of around 71 per cent in Medical Colleges from 387 before 2014 to 660 as of now.

Further, the number of MBBS seats has almost doubled and Post Graduate seats have more than doubled since 2013-14.

The services of Indian Nurses are considerably recognized in foreign countries, so it is important to bring Indian nursing education at par with global standards in order to facilitate their mobility and better employment opportunities. They are recognized as highly skilled professionals and drive the healthcare delivery system, but their numerical strength is below global norms and needs to be adequately enhanced.

Construction of Tura Medical College in progress

Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has informed that the work for the construction of the Tura medical college is progressing.

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“We have about 45 per cent of physical progress. There are some problems (and) we are engaging with other nearby hospitals to ensure that we reach the mark of 450 beds as recommended by the MCI,” Lyngdoh told reporters.

She said that there were also certain problems with the availability of funds but that also has been sorted out.

The minister also announced that she will be visiting the construction site very shortly and said, “I am waiting for the model code of conduct to be completed quickly so I can begin to go on the ground to understand better but the Tura Medical College is progressing.

On the proposal to set up the Shillong medical college, Lyngdoh said that the government is yet to formulate a finalized approach and the matter has still to be taken to the cabinet adding that “but internal engagements are on”.

“We still require proper cabinet note to be sent proper projections to be made but yes Shillong medical college will probably change from the old proposal,” she said while adding that “We may have a PPP proposal as proposed earlier but not necessarily in Shillong but somewhere in this part of the state but all of this is being prepared now and it would be incorrect for me to divulge too much on that but one message which can go very clearly is that we are a concern and we are on the job and we will come up with a proposal and a plan at the earliest.”

When asked, Lyngdoh said, “We want these institutions to be materialized within the timeline that was specified. I know that yes we were told to institute one and it has been done in the Garo region yes we have to institute something in the Khasi region or the Ri Bhoi region as well that is we are on the job and on the pipeline but we cannot spell it out with full authority as we are still at a discussion level and we still looking at what is the best way forward.”

Ampareen wants report on non-functional health centres

Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has sought a report on non-functional health care centres across the state.

This was after a delegation of the Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) Ri Bhoi District and Dorbar Shnong of Parila village has sought her intervention to make functional the MCH hospital at the village by appointing manpower for the interest of the people of the area.

After the meeting, Lyngdoh told reporters that she will be conducting an inspection to this important health facility at Parila on May 8.

Congress MLA Celestine Lyngdoh and Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem, who is the adviser in the health department, will also be present during the inspection.

“I hope I will be able to attend to the important facility that has been used as a Covid centre and used as a quarantine centre. So we will go and we will see and until that time I hope I will do all my homework before May 8,” she said.

The minister informed that there was some issue related to staff and said, “I don’t know whether posts have been created and sanctioned or interviews have been conducted. We will have to look at the HR allocation but with the NHM in place, I am sure we will be able to run it adequately so let us wait and see what information I gather before the actual inspection.”

When asked, Lyngdoh said she will send a team of officials to inspect across the state and submit a report on non-functional health centres.

“I will take that report sometime in the first week of May and accordingly we will try to address the shortfalls and accordingly we will try to ensure that we upgrade or make all such facilities operational and it is a humongous task as I have to go across the state to check these centres,” she said while adding that “So we will begin with Parila and we will see where we go next and I am determined to make difference and I will try my best. We must make sure that if facilities have been raised they should be operational.”

On the other hand, the minister maintained that she will ensure there is no politics in this sector and said, “…at the end of the day the health facilities of the state must conform to certain standards and I am a very willing minister to ensure there is no politics in this sector at least.”