CPI (M) expresses concern over surge in Covid cases
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 14 2021: The CPI (M), Manipur Secretariat has expressed deep concern over the alarming surge in Covid infection rate and the extreme strain health care facilities have been put under.

The party, in a statement said that both the Government and private hospitals in the State are already flooded with patients and available statistics showed that Manipur has the highest Covid related death rate according to the population ratio among the NE States.

Already overstrained by the surging number of Covid infected persons, the hospitals are no longer admitting patients and they are left to their own fate in the Government run Covid Care Centers, it said.

The centers especially in the twin districts of Imphal are in shambles with inadequate infrastructures and staff.

It is extremely disheartening that those infected persons deserving immediate critical medical intervention are left to meet their own fate in this centers, CPI lamented and demanded the State Government to urgently expand critical care measures.

The State Executive Committee of the State Disaster Management Authority in view of the alarming development should strengthen its effort on a war footing, it said.

More number of ICU for Covid infected persons should be made available wherever possible.

If not, the Covid related mortality rate will keep on increasing, it said with concern.

The party also called on the State Government to immediately increase the number of doctors and medical staff at the Covid Care Centers and augment the infrastructural requirement without any delay.

There is urgent need for revamping the battle strategy to save lives from Covid, it said while urging CM, N Biren Singh to call an all political party meeting so as to envision a better strategy to fight the pandemic.

Representatives of civil bodies and prominent public intellectuals of the State must also be invited to refurbish and strengthen the earlier committee that was formed in the wake of 1st wave of the pandemic, it continued.

The party also went on to list a set of demands to the State Government for effective dealing of the situation.

The demand included provision of adequate oxygen to all hospitals and people needing it; launch of a free universal vaccination programme across the State; use of CM Relief Fund and budgetary allocation for the pandemic in procuring vaccines from National and international agencies.

The party also urged the State Government to strictly control prices of essential drugs and oxygen and to impose a clampdown on their hoarding and black marketing.

While demanding direct transfer of Rs 7500 to all families in the non-income tax paying bracket, CPI (M) also urged the Government to ensure free distribution of food grains to all needy.

The Government must immediately ensure the availability of hospital beds, ventilators, ICU beds, particularly in the rural areas where the pandemic is spreading rapidly, it continued.

Despite suggestions from the party one whole year has been wasted and Manipur cannot afford to lose any more time, it said while urging the State Government to immediately deliver the demands and measures.

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