Assam Health Dept on War Footing to Combat COVID-19 without Reporting a Single Case

Guwahati, March 29, 2020:

Assam is heading completion of the COVID-19 quarantine facility that is being built at Guwahati's Sarusajai Stadium to accommodate at least 1000 people.

The good news of Assam's preparedness to combat COVID-19 with no positive cases so far, was shared by State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. "Happy to inform that the work on the Covid quarantine facilities being built at Sarusajai Stadium is coming up on a war footing. Sharing some pictures from the facility that is being built up as we speak. #AssamCares #FightAgainstCovid," tweeted Sarma.

It may be mentioned here that Assam has been lauded by the netizens for its relentless preparations against the virus. It is planning to set up another facility of 1000 capacity at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati.

Assam’s Health Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has been at the forefront of this fight against the coronavirus, has adopted a “people-approach” in dealing with this issue, i.e, sensitization of the people of the State to intimate them about the dangers posed by the virus. Yesterday, when scores of reckless Assamese came out of their safe havens to partake in marketing amid the lockdown, Biswa Sarma immediately took to Twitter. Making an urgent appeal to the people, he wrote, “Request to every one – please do not go out of our own Home. We are in very critical condition. Need to follow every word of Narendra Modi in both letter and spirit. Please.”

Later, addressing the media, the Minister also announced that the private and public health facilities in the State are prepping to fight to coronavirus in tandem. The Health Ministry has now decided to restrict the Gauhati Medi cal College and Hospital (GMCH), which as emerged as the epicentre of corona testing in the Northeast, only for maternity, cancer and emergency care from March 28.

Otherwise, it will be used for treatment of the COVID-19 patients. Moreover, 3 of the 7 Government medical colleges will be used for treating corona patients, the administration has confirmed. This, it is believed, will enable the Government to treat 5,000 patients at the same time.

In Guwahati, another hospital, Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital in Pan Bazar is ready with 200 beds, while the Kamrup Rural District Hospital is said to be having a similar capacity for coronavirus patients.

“All other patients shall be redirected to private nursing homes & hospitals. Patients can also directly approach private clinics for free treatment. Govt will pay back the private hospital as per Ayushman Bharat”, Biswa Sarma told reporters in Guwahati yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Assam administration is also planning 5 pre-fabricated hospitals in collaboration with private companies to meet this emergency situation. The project might cost around Rs 40-45 crore, which shall be met with the help of donations from govt agencies, MPs and public and state resources. Meanwhile, some MPs such as the Congressman Pradyut Bordoloi have already pledged sums to amp up the fight against the corona.

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