Chief Minister N Biren Singh today inaugurated a newly set up Covid Intensive Care Unit (ICU)/Accident Trauma Centre at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS).
The ICU has a capacity of 100 beds equipped with advanced medical facilities which would be very useful for treatment of COVID-19 positive patients who need intensive care.
Speaking at the occasion, N Biren said that the newly inaugurated ICU block would be of great relief to JNIMS and the people of the State as supply of oxygen to COVID-19 infected patients has been a major concern.
Setting up of such ICU beds with ventilators and other sophisticated equipment would be a huge input to the efforts of doctors and nurses in providing treatment and saving lives of the people from the pandemic, he said.
Stating that every frontline worker has been rendering best possible services in many forms such as transportation of Oxygen cylinders and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), he appealed to doctors and nurses to put in their best efforts to save people’s lives.
He informed that the Government had assigned different teams consisting of three officers each to four major Covid hospitals namely RIMS, JNIMS, Shija Hospital & Research Institute and Raj Medicity to strengthen coordination between the hospital authorities, patients and the Government.
Stating that saving peoples’ lives is the priority, he further informed that the Government would take stringent action against those hospitals or staff if they are found neglecting patients intentionally thereby putting lives at risk.
The Chief Minister also maintained that the Government has been putting in best efforts to flatten the curve of the pandemic by setting up dedicated Covid hospitals, Covid Care Centres and oxygen plants among others at different places.
Construction of a 200 bedded dedicated Covid hospital with 50 ICU beds is also in progress at Kyamgei with the assistance of DRDO and the same would be ready for operation within a month, he added.
Maintaining that construction works for setting up of oxygen plants in certain hill districts is in progress, he informed that the Central Government had also given sanction for setting up of an oxygen plant capable of refilling 200 cylinders in the State and also assured that the State would have adequate supply of oxygen once these plants become operational.
He added that the State has now adequate facilities for accommodating COVID-19 patients with its five to six dedicated Covid hospitals, more than 2000 beds at different Covid Care Centres and other facilities set up in every Assembly Constituency.
He urged doctors, nurses and other staff of JNIMS to work in proper coordination and understanding with one another and asked them to come to the Government and authority concerned if they have any grievances.
He assured that the Government would always be ready to sort out their grievances.
He appealed to the public to be responsible and adhere to the SOPs issued by the Government from time to time as support and cooperation from each and every individual is a must in fighting the pandemic successfully.
Agriculture Minister Oinam Lukhoi, Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba , Advisor to Chief Minister (Health) Dr Sapam Ranjan, Chairman, Loktak Development Authority L Susindro, Principal Secretary V Vumlunmang, Secretary to Chief Minister N Geoffrey and officials of JNIMS also attended the inaugural function, among others.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated a 60 bedded Covid Care Centre, newly set up in the multipurpose hall of Standard College, Kongba, Imphal East district.
The centre which is equipped with oxygen concentrators and oxygen cylinders will be manned by 12 doctors, 14 nurses and 9 multi-tasking staff.
The centre would be used for treatment of mild symptomatic positive patients.
Addressing the gathering, Biren stated that the recent sudden jump in the COVID-19 mortality rate was mostly due to co-morbidity of positive patients and therefore, the State Government has been making arrangements for increasing ICU beds with ventilators to take care of such patients.
Stating that the rate of vaccination in the State is high with nearly six lakh people vaccinated till now, he appealed to the public not to believe in any misleading and false rumours regarding the vaccine and its effect.
Regarding the Makru Bridge which is a long awaited dream of the people of Manipur, he said that construction of the bridge had been fully completed and added that the Government is waiting for its curing time to inaugurate it so that heavy vehicles can use the bridge at the time of inauguration.
(Courtesy: The Sangai Express)