Covid teams activated, samples sent to Kolkata
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 13 2022: As the Manipur government prepares to contain the fourth wave of Covid-19 pandemic in the state, several measures have been taken up including reactivating the Covid teams and sending samples for testing at Kolkata to determine the identity of the sub-variant of Omicron that is affecting the people.

Speaking to The People's Chronicle (TPC) in this regard, Health Services director Dr K Rajo informed that in view of the rising number of positive cases in the state, a joint meeting of the council of ministers, government officials, health department, CMOs of districts, and teams of RIMS and JNIMS was held, following which the previously-formed Covid-19 teams have been reactivated.

At present, 47 beds in RIMS, 35 in JNIMS and 10 beds in each of the district hospitals have been reserved for Covid patients.

The number of beds will be increased in accordance with the requirement, he added.

The activated teams include the home isolation and surveillance teams who took great responsibilities during the last three waves.

The previous Covid-Care Centres (CCCs) have been made ready to house patients and there is adequate stock of oxygen and medicines.

Necessary equipment for home isolations have also been checked and ready for use, he conveyed.

Dr Rajo further informed that at present, the state has 27 Oxygen plants and 4 Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) plants.

There is also adequate number of oxygen cylinders, which will take care of any oxygen requirement of patients.

Although there is no issue with the oxygen plant operating with electricity, there is still yet to be any hands-on experience in operating via generators.

Thus, the teams who had installed the oxygen plants will be revisiting the plants soon to check for any issues or repairs.

The director continued: "Most of the people who tested positive have already been fully vaccinated and as such, are not in any serious danger.

However, there are still some young patients among them.

Some of the patients are being kept at ICU for observation purposes only as it is their first time to get sick.

The present variant spreading in the state has been determined to be Omicron but as the sub-variant is yet to be identified, samples have been sent to Kalyani Testing Centre, Kolkata for testing.

The test results will take some time.

"Although Omicron is a highly transmissible variant, it is not deadly to people with strong natural immunity and have been vaccinate.

It does not infect the lungs unlike the Delta variant, other than exhibiting symptoms of body ache and fever", Dr Rajo informed.

On the other hand, TPC found that the Oxygen plant at Tamenglong District Hospital is not operational due to technical problem.

However, materials for the much-needed repairs are on the way from Guwahati.

This daily also found that the installation of Oxygen plant (LPM 500) at Tamei PHC under the PM Care Fund is yet to be completed, while the oxygen plant in Jiribam had become defunct just a few days after its inauguration.

The authority concerned has been requested to dispatch an engineer to check which part of the plant had stopped working.

Meanwhile, the two oxygen plants at Churachandpur District Hospital, and plants installed at the District Hospitals of Chandel, Bishnupur, Moreh and Thoubal are working perfectly, while the construction of an 800 LPM oxygen plant at Thoubal District Hospital is nearing completion.

Additionally, the PSA Oxygen Plant at District Hospital, Ukhrul with a capacity to produce 1000 litres a day is said to be fully functional.

The Hospital authority conveyed that they are now independent in terms of oxygen requirements as the same is being produced from the plant.

Previously, the hospital was dependent on oxygen supply from Imphal.

Regarding the PSA oxygen plant at Somdal CHC with a capacity of SOO litres a day, it is said to have developed some technical issues earlier.

But the accurate information could not be gathered right now.

However, the two oxygen plants that had been installed at Senapati recently are reportedly not functioning.

According to a report received from Senapati District Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Sokha-a, the oxygen plant which was inaugurated by the CM, is reportedly out of order since May last due to defect in the fuse of stabiliser and the other one that was installed under Tribal Affairs & Hills remains idle due to shortage of power.

The MS further said that she has been asking for a separate transformer for ensuring uninterrupted power supply.

The MS further mentioned that the Oxygen gas filled/stored when it was functional is being used at present.

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