Assam Rifles conducts coronavirus awareness camp
Source: The Sangai Express

Chandel, February 23 2020: Sehlon Battalion of 28 Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ IGAR (South) conducted an awareness camp on coronavirus or COVID-19 at the bordering villages of Dingpi region in Chandel district today.

The awareness camp was followed by medical checkup of the villagers residing in the remotest location of south Manipur, said PRO, IGAR.

The medical officers of this battalion also distributed medicines to ailing patients while medical help was also provided to the children and elderly facing health issues.

During the awareness campaign, personnel of Assam Rifles informed villagers regarding the symptoms of coronavirus which includes severe cough, low grade fever and distinct feeling of being short of breath.

The medical team of Assam Rifles also highlighted to the villagers that if they have experienced any such symptoms then the medical team should be immediately informed.

Mobile numbers of the medical team were distributed to the villagers and boards were erected prominently displaying these numbers.

Furthermore, the Assam Rifles also created facilities for isolation of such patients in bordering areas wherein tents have been pitched to isolate any such villagers who report such symptoms.

The bordering villages of Samtal Salient are situated in close proximity to Sagaing region of Myanmar.

Sagaing region is an administrative region of Myanmar, which borders Manipur towards East.

Trans-Border trade takes place between Yunan Province in China and Myanmar in Agriculture, Aquaculture and Sea Food sectors, it said.

The personnel dealing in these products move through Sagaing region to further carry out the trade activities and hence pose a threat of spreading the virus in the region, added the statement.

The fact that, as of February 17, Myanmar was monitoring eight people for symptom of the disease accentuates the need for villagers residing in bordering areas of Manipur to be educated on the symptoms and precautionary measures that are required to be taken.

Presently, the governing regulation for Trans-Border movement is Free Movement Regime (FMR) wherein villagers residing in bordering areas can move upto 16 km on either side of the Indo-Myanmar Border (1MB) without any official documents.

This unchecked flow of population into Manipur further places the need for deft monitoring of the population in order to keep a strict vigil on the inadvertent spread of the virus.

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