15-bedded COVID ICU to be set up in FAAMCH: Himanta Biswa Sarma

A CORRESPONDENT

BARPETA: Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that to ramp up COVID fighting infrastructure in Barpeta district, the State Government was setting up a 15-bedded COVID ICU in Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital (FAAMCH) in Barpeta along with providing 50 oxygen concentrators.

Visiting FAAMCH on Thursday to take stock of the COVID-19 situation prevailing in Barpeta district, Chief Minister Sarma said that the 15-bedded COVID Care ICU along with 50 oxygen concentrators would empower the district a great deal to provide treatment to critically ill COVID patients. Taking stock of the COVID situation of Barpeta district in FAAMCH with Principal of the college, Dr. Ramen Talukdar, Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and Joint Director of Health Services of the district, Chief Minister Sarma said that through the positivity rate in the district was not alarming, the death rate of the district was a cause of concern. He, therefore, asked the district administration to intensify RTPCR test to ascertain the COVID status of the people. This would help the Health Department to take proactive steps in giving the right kind of medical intervention to the patients. He also asked the district administration to provide oxy meter to the positive patients belonging to economically weaker section who opt for home isolation. He, however, categorically stated that home isolation for the positive cases above 50 years of age would be completely stopped.

Chief Minister Sarma asked the Principal of FAAMCH to intensify the services of all the doctors in the hospital so that an advanced and accountable treatment facilities could be provided to the patients on 24x7 basis. He also asked the Principal to ensure duty of the senior doctors at the COVID unit during late hours at night.

With regard to oxygen availability, Sarma said that though at present there was no scarcity of medical oxygen in FAAMCH, plans were always in the pipeline to provide extra oxygen if there was any shortfall of it. The Chief Minister also said that if all the districts astutely adhere to the preventive measures prescribed by the government, within 15 days the COVID situation in the State would improve. He, therefore, asked the district administration, district health authorities and other stakeholders to put their best foot forward and aid the government's efforts to contain the COVID situation in the State.

Chief Minister Sarma also asked Joint Directors of Health Services, Barpeta to undertake visit to all parts of Barpeta district to assess the situation and prepare a strategy to deal with the rising number of COVID cases. He also asked the DC to visit FAAMCH during night hours and ensure presence of senior doctors in the COVID wards.

MLA of Barpeta, Abdur Rahim Ahmed, Sarbhog MLA Monoranjan Talukdar, Chenga MLA Ashraful Hussain, Sarukhetri MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar, Jania MLA Rafikul Hussain and other senior government officers of the district were present during the Chief Minister's visit to the district.

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