Unlike cancer, COVID-19 not a serious disease: CM Biren
Ayush/Covid hospital inaugurated; ccpur first hill district to have oxygen plant
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, May 26 2021: Unlike cancer which is hard to cure, COVID-19 is not a serious disease and it is curable within 14 days if detected early, stated chief minister N Biren Singh and appealed to people to go for testing whenever suspected and start treatment immediately instead of waiting for self-healing.

The chief minister stated this while inaugurating a 100-bedded Ayush Hospital at Keirao which has been converted into a dedicated Covid hospital as of now.

Addressing a small gathering of people during the inauguration event, N Biren said that fatality from COVID-19 in the state could be avoided if people go for testing immediately after having suspicion of contracting the virus and start treatment.

This disease is not a serious one like cancer, he iterated.

The CM also expressed serious concern over not following SOPs by some people and observed that such callousness could be a reason for the increase in positive cases.

Stating that the state government had significantly made improvement in health infrastructure and oxygen production capacity in the past few weeks, the chief minister recounted that the health directorate had only 20 oxygen cylinders but now has around 1800 oxygen cylinders and 1000 oxygen concentrators.

There was no oxygen plant of the government though two private firms produced oxygen at Bishnupur and Takyel.

In addition to the existing oxygen generating units, a cryogenic oxygen plant having a production capacity of around 1300 cylinders per day would be inaugurated soon at JNIMS, the chief minister said, adding that one oxygen plant having production capacity of 250 cylinders per day will also be inaugurated at Churachandpur.

Another oxygen plant at Thoubal would be inaugurated within four/five days while materials for construction of oxygen plants at Chandel, Senapati, Ukhrul and Tamenglong would arrive soon, the chief minister said.

Foundation stone of the just inaugurated Ayush Hospital was laid in 2017 jointly by the then family welfare and Ayush minister L Jayantakumar and State Planning Board deputy chairman L Rameshwar.

In his speech, Keirao MLA L Rameshwar stated that the 100-bedded Ayush Hospital could be upgraded to 200 beds and the hospital administration is planning to impart Yoga lessons to COVID-19 patients at the hospital.

Later in the day, N Biren inaugurated a PSA Oxygen Plant, which is first of its kind in hill districts, at Churachandpur on Wednesday.

The CM also reviewed the present Covid-19 situation in Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts during a meeting at Churachandpur district headquarters.

The chief minister travelled to Churachandpur district headquarters by road and inaugurated the mini-secretariat building of the district on his arrival.

Later, he went to District Hospital complex and inaugurated the first oxygen plant of hill districts there.

The plant has the capacity of producing 200 litres per minute (LPM) .

He also inspected the ongoing construction of the temporary administrative block of Churachandpur Medical College.

The CM later reviewed the present Covid-19 situation in Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts in the presence of TA and hills minister Vungzagin Valte, advisor to CM (Health) Dr S Ranjan, MLAs TN Haokip, V Hangkhanlian, Ginsuanhau Zou, DGP LM Khaute, ADGP C Doungel, principal secretary (Health) V Vumlunmang, secretary to CM N Geoffrey, DCs, SPs, CMOs, other officials and CSO representatives.

Speaking during the review meeting, N Biren pointed out that Churachandpur has become the first hill district of the state to have an oxygen generating unit.

Moreover, it would soon become the first hill district, which has a medical college, he added.

The CM further said that construction of the temporary administrative block of the college is going on in full swing, and necessary procedures for early commencement of the first session would begin once the building is completed.

N Biren also said that he visited the district to convey to the people of Churachandpur that they need not worry as the state government would do whatever possible to save them from the pandemic.

He also reiterated that Covid-19 is not that dreaded like other critical ailments and can be prevented if people properly follow the SOPs.

N Biren also asked the DCs, SPs and officials concerned to strictly check the home isolation patients whether they are lodged in separate rooms having separate toilets.

He also said that the district administration has been authorised to engage the required manpower in consultation with local MLAs.

The chief minister further said that every hill district would be provided three ambulances each with funds from TA and Hills.

Later, N Biren Singh donated Rs 5 lakh to Only Grace Home and provided three oxygen concentrators to CMO Churachandpur and two oxygen concentrators to CMO Pherzawl.

Comment