Pointing out that prevention is always better than cure, Hill Areas Committee (HAC) Chairman K Leishiyo has asserted that it is the foremost duty and responsibility of every citizen to ensure that they are not infected by COVID-19.However, if someone is infected by the virus, the responsibility of treatment lies with the Government, Leishiyo asserted while talking to The Sangai Express over telephone.
Even though road infrastructure has improved significantly in Kamjong district as a result of the slew of development projects taken up during the last couple of years, the same cannot be said about health care facilities, he admitted.
Highlighting all pervasive COVID-19 second wave and its devastating impacts, the HAC Chairman appealed to all the people to take utmost care so as to prevent Covid infection.
Of the four sub-divisions of Kamjong district, there is neither any PHC nor PHSC at Sahamphung sub-division.
There is a CHC at Kamjong, one PHC at Phungyar and a PHSC at Kasom Khullen but all these health centres are lacking in all aspects.
Against 10 MOs sanctioned for Kamjong CHC, only four are present.
Even though two Dental Surgeons are sanctioned for the CHC, only one is working there.
There is not a single specialist doctor in Kamjong CHC even though seven posts have been sanctioned, Leishiyo said.
Likewise, there is only one MO at Phungyar PHC out of five MOs sanctioned for the PHC.
Nonetheless, there are three MOs at Kasom Khullen PHSC against the sanctioned post of five.
Although one Medical Officer has been sanctioned for the Rural Family Welfare Centre, Kasom Khullen, the MO is not present there, Leishiyo said.
There are five sanctioned posts of MOs under the Kamjong Chief Medical Officer pool but all these posts are vacant.
In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID care centres have been opened at Kamjong CHC (30 beds), Phungyar PHC (30) beds) and Kasom Khullen PHSC (40 beds).
But all these COVID care centres have been facing severe challenges and difficulties like absence of MOs in full strength, non-availability of oxygen and oxygen concentrators, absence of ventilators and ambulance to bring patients from far off places, he said The Government has been doing a lot in terms of development of roads, electrification, water supply etc, the HAC Chairman noted while urging the Government to look into the health care requirements of Kamjong.
He said there are around 20 COVID-19 patients at a particular place of Kamjong district and appealed to the Government to take up all necessary measures.
(Courtesy: The Sangai Express)