Prepared to face Covid variant : Dr Ranjan
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 20 2023:
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Sapam Ranjan has stated that the Health Department is prepared to face the new variant of Covid which has been reported in some regions of south India.
The Health and Family Welfare Minister today inaugurated State Newborn Resource Centre, JNIMS and launched SAANS 2023-24 (Social Awareness and Action to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully) .
Speaking at the function which was jointly organised by the Directorate of Health Services and State Health Society, NHM, Dr Sapam Ranjan said that some cases of a new variant of Covid have been reported from Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The Union Minister of Health today held a video conference with Health Ministers of all States on the theme 'prevention is better than cure', he said.
Dr Sapam Ranjan said that the State Government has initiated several measures to prevent the new Covid variant from reaching Manipur.
Moreover, the State Government has initiated necessary preparations to face the new variant in case it somehow reaches the State.
A mock drill was held on December 13, he said.
The Government of India has taken serious note of the new variant as it has already claimed some lives in south India.
The Government of India has already asked all States to take up preventive and precautionary measures, he said.
Today India is emerging as a leading country in the field of healthcare.
India produced its own Covid vaccines and its massive Covid vaccination programme was lauded by many countries, he said.
He went on to claim that India is always prepared to fight new variants of Covid and added that the State Government has been making all efforts to develop JNIMS Medical College.
He also called upon all concerned to spread awareness about pneumonia and its preventive measures among the public through social media.
Health Director Dr Khoirom Sasheekumar Mangang said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of making India a developed country by 2047 .
He then called upon all the citizens to see that the Prime Minister's target is achieved.
Out of 307 newborns/children infected by pneumonia in Manipur, 17 have died.
This fatality rate is quite high and all concerned need to pay special attention so as to reduce the fatality rate, Dr Sasheekumar said.
He informed that JNIMS now has a pneumonia treatment centre.
NHM Manipur State Mission Director Dr Somorjit Ningombam said that the SAANS campaign launched on November 12 this year would continue till February 29 next year.
The campaign is aimed at spreading awareness about what pneumonia is, how far it harms children and that it can be cured if vaccinated and detected in time, Dr Somorjit said.
At the moment, the rate of pneumonia infection is quite high.
But now there is a vaccine to prevent pneumonia, he said.
JNIMS Director Laishram Deben and JNIMS Medical Superintendent Dr Kh Lokeshore too were present at the function where a pneumonia post was also released.