State Govt on its toes against COVID-19: Dr Rajo
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 01 2020: The State Government has been continuously taking up all possible prevent measures against novel coronavirus, COVID-19 which has its epicentre at Wuhan city of China's Hubei province and has now spread to around 60 countries across the planet.

This was stated by Health Director Dr K Rajo at a media sensitisation workshop held at the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services where the 4th round of Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0 was also launched.

State Govt on its toes against COVID-19: Dr Rajo

He said that the State Government has been taking up all possible preventive measures to keep away COVID-19 from the State under the supervision of the Chief Minister, the Health Minister and the Principal Secretary (Health) .

All the people coming to the State through Moreh and Behiang are being screened by medical teams stationed there.

Similar preventive measures have been put in place at Jiribam and Mao too, Dr Rajo said.

Likewise, a special medical team has been screening all air passengers who land at Imphal airport using a set of new equipment.

So far, out of 10 samples sent from the State to the National Institute of Virology, Pune for COVID-19 test, nine (two males and seven females) have been found negative while the result of one is awaited, said the Health Director.

If one is showing symptoms of fever and respiratory problems, novel coronavirus is suspected but no such case has been detected in the State till date, he said.

Two officials represented Manipur at a meeting of all the North Eastern States held recently at Agartala on COVID-19 preventive measures.

As no vaccine or medicine has been invented for treatment of COVID-19, one should take up all possible preventive measures.

One should follow the best practices of hygiene and sanitation.

One should wash one's hands thoroughly and frequently using alcohol-based sanitisers in addition to wearing surgical masks, said the Health Director.

Children, aged people, people suffering from kidney ailments, blood pressure and other chronic diseases are more vulnerable to novel coronavirus, he said.

Talking about the Intensified Mission Indradhanush, Dr Rajo said that first, second and third rounds of the mission were carried out in December last year, January and February this year respectively.

The fourth round would be held tomorrow.

During the first round.

683 pregnant women of Tamenglong and Chandel districts (including the newly created districts of Noney and Tengnoupal) were immunised against eight vaccine-preventable diseases.

The second and third rounds covered 279 and 96 pregnant women respectively.

During the first round, 599 babies (0-2 years) of Chandel and Tamenglong were immunised.

The second and third rounds covered 236 children and 184 children respectively.

Percentage-wise, 36.02 per cent, 73 per cent and 88.07 per cent of pregnant women living in the two districts have been covered in the first, second and third round of the mission.

The corresponding figures for children are 42.18 per cent, 27.82 per cent and 28.26 per cent, Dr Rajo elaborated.

District level and State level micro plans have been chalked out for the fourth round scheduled tomorrow.

The number of children and pregnant women who are yet to be immunised have been ascertained, said the Health Director.

He then appealed to all educationists, village heads, NGOs, teachers and Church leaders to help immunise all pregnant women and children during the fourth round tomorrow who are yet to be immunised.