Appoint a dedicated MLA as minister for fight Covid: Saratchandra
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 27 2021: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) secretary P Saratchandra has urged the state government to appoint an MLA with scientific mindset as ealth minister so that he/she could give whole focus only on pandemic related issues round the clock.

In a video recording released to the press on Thursday, Saratchandra noted that the state government has been trying its level best to take control of the pandemic including imposition of a lockdown/curfew since April 29 .

Although this is commendable, the number of positive cases in the state is skyrocketing, with around 847 cases detected on Wednesday.

This is alarming and as such, the state government should take up more stringent measures in addition to the existing policy to curb the pandemic, he asserted.

"Amid this, both the central and the state governments have sped up the vaccination drive across the country.

In Manipur's context, only 10 per cent of the population has been vaccinated so far and it is estimated that the entire population could be fully vaccinated only by September, 2024 .

Meanwhile, countries like USA have vaccinated 86 percent of its population and United Kingdom 91 per cent.

As such the low rate of vaccination in the state will only impede efforts to fend off the pandemic completely", Saratchandra remarked and urged the state government to take up necessary steps to fast track the vaccination process.

The MPCC spokesperson then said that although the prevailing pandemic situation in the state is quite serious, there is no proper health minister for the state.

Urging the state government to appoint an MLA who is scientifically versed on the Covid-19 pandemic and could give his complete focus on curbing the pandemic along with handling related issues, as the health minister; Saratchandra appealed to the people of the state to strictly follow the government guidelines and SOP on Covid-19 .

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