Guwahati: With a bid to add more teeth to its fight against the COVID-19 viral infection, the Assam health department has kickstarted the procedure for the setting up of two more hospitals dedicated to fighting the disease in Kamrup (Metropolitan) district.
Assam finance and health minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has been witnessed fighting the battle against the COVID-19 since the disease landed on our shores, went to the site in person to check up on the preparation of these two much-needed hospitals.
"Two new COVID Care Centres are going to be functional soon in Sonapur, one each at Assam Don Bosco University (350-bed) & Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (150-bed). Visited both the sites to take stock of ongoing work & preparations", Sarma wrote in a tweet.
The health minister also visited the Sonapur District Hospital today and interacted with doctors, nurses, and cleaning staff. Appreciated them for their remarkable and selfless contribution in Assam's fight against COVID-19. He met patients and also enquired about their health and advised them not to panic.
Meanwhile, with the number of deaths due to COVID-19 rising at a steady and alarming pace, the state health department has set the ramping up of its testing facilities and the inclusion of new health infrastructure as a part of its immediate agenda.
Yesterday, in a breakthrough of sorts, the health department conducted its first plasma therapy treatment on a critically ill patient. "We have created history at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). We have begun the first plasma therapy session. The plasma donated by Dr. Lithikesh, the first donor, has been administered to a critical patient here. He is in a very bad condition, but God willing, his condition will improve with this treatment", Biswa Sarma, who was present during the procedure, told media.
Meanwhile, with the addition of hundreds of fresh cases on a regular basis, the number of COVID-19 cases in the state has soared past 14,000. As on Friday midnight, the number of COVID-19 cases in Assam had reached 14,600, out of which 5,423 cases were active.