Student bodies want COVID test labs at all districts
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, June 14 2020: All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) and Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Singpanglup (AIMS) have demanded the State Government of Manipur to "immediately install Covid-19 testing labs in all the districts of the State without any further delay as the number of positive cases among the returnees is increasing alarmingly every passing day" .

The three students' bodies in a joint statement issued to Newmai News Network on Sunday said that the State Government of Manipur ought to recognize the availability of testing labs in all the districts is an urgent necessity in order to prevent community spread of the disease.

"We are extremely disappointed that test results of some districts are still less than a quarter," lamented the three students' organisations.

According to ANSAM, DESAM and AIMS, at this pace of testing, the returnees might be discharged from their respective institutional/community quarantine centres before getting the test results thus increasing the chances of community spreading.

"We hope the State Government will recognize this issue and act on this avoidable danger by immediately prioritizing this aspect," the joint statement added.

The three students' bodies also urged the State Government to arrange adequate institutional quarantine centers with appropriate facilities and spacing to avoid transmission during the quarantine period.

"Kindly segregate the new comers systematically in separate rooms and facilities in the quarantine centre(s) in compliance with specified protocols," said the statement, adding, "We hope due caution would be taken in all the quarantine centres, and in this regard, we request the State Government to also make the officials equally responsible and accountable" .

AIMS, DESAM and ANSAM then expressed their solidarity with all the Covid-19 patients and all the returnees.

"We also urge each of you to follow all the SOPs that are in place and cooperate with the authorities and volunteers who have been working unceasingly despite all the challenges," they added.

DESAM, ANSAM and AIMS then said they acknowledged and thanked all the frontline workers and especially "our doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals and staffs for their efforts, which have saved us from any fatality till date despite the positive cases rising to 466".They added, "We are also grateful to the police and the other line departments that are tirelessly working to ensure our safety and food supply" .

ANSAM, DESAM and AIMS then conveyed their "sincere" appreciation to all the volunteers who have been selflessly assisting the government in different quarantine centers across the State.

"Such sacrifice has enabled the government to face this pandemic and assist the returnees in the respective quarantine centres," they also said, adding, "We fervently appeal for more such volunteers from all walks of life both for the village level and district level to collectively address this pandemic" .

The three students' bodies also appealed to the State government to acknowledge and recognize their valuable contribution in a befitting manner.

The three students' organisations then appealed to taxis and travel agencies to be "more patriotic and supportive" in rendering their services to the quarantine individuals in such difficult times.

"Considering the difficulties of mobility, we also appeal to the government to consider this aspect in regard to the returnees after they complete their quarantine periods," the joint statement added.

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