OUR CORRESPONDENT
KOKRAJHAR: A press meet on COVID-19 management and flood preparedness in the district was addressed by Deputy Commissioner of Chirang, Narendra Kumar Shah at the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner's office, Kajalgaon on Wednesday.
The press meet was also attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Health), Chirang, Ringkhang Mashahary and Chirang DIPRO Gagan Narzary. Welcoming the media, Deputy Commissioner Shah said, "I think that there is always thin-line relationship between press and administration as we are neither friends nor enemy, but we have to work together for the welfare of society." He appealed to media persons to cooperate with him throughout his tenure in Chirang district.
He said that with regard to flood management, the district administration had already held two meetings with the officers of departments concerned and instructed them to make flood contingency plans, if they have not prepared yet, including to complete all critical works considered to be very important for restoration of communication and protection of flood and erosion before the rainy season. "We have decided to form circle-level relief committees at all circle areas for smooth management of flood situation in the district. Giving importance on maintaining COVID-19 protocol in the relief camps as well as during rescue operation, we will set up health and hygiene cell with medical and public health engineering officials. Medical teams and child corners will also be available at every relief camp site during that crisis period," he further said.
He said that as of now there were sufficient rescue forces in the district as they had good number of SDRF and NDRF teams in hand for any help, including rescue operations. He also spoke about forming of media cell under the supervision of with the DIPRO, Chirang and his staff under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner for timely dissemination of authentic flood reports to media persons.
Appraising about up-to-date COVID situation in the district, he said that till Tuesday there were 205 active cases and 16 hospitalized cases in the district. He further informed that as per the report, 37,287 and 12,395 people had already taken first and second dose vaccines respectively and as such, till now out of 836 positive cases, 617 COVID patients had been discharged after they tested negative.
"As per COVID situation is concerned, we are slightly better than the rest of the country and rest of the districts in Assam as the positivity rate of our district is still at 3 per cent, which is considered to be under control. But we have to be very cautious about the COVID situation," he said adding, "In this respect we have already mechanized at district, thana and VCDC levels for constant monitoring of patients conditions keeping in home isolation, and whether they are regularly getting rations and properly maintaining of COVID-19 guidelines."
The Deputy Commissioner also stressed strengthening the control room already set up at his office with sufficient manpower and resources. He assured to make operational the oxygen generator plant donated by UK being set up at JSB Civil Hospital, Kajalgaon and expansion of ICU beds from existing number 8 to 25 in the same hospital within the next 10 days. He said that before getting vaccination, all people had to undergo COVID test as this process was made compulsory at all vaccination centres in the district since the last three days.
In the end, he appealed to the media persons to cooperate with the district administration in generating awareness among the public about the benefit of vaccine for fighting against coronavirus.