HITO moves CM Conrad K Sangma over ventilators for COVID patients

A REPORTER

SHILLONG: The Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) today submitted a memorandum to the Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, expressing their views and concern over the number of Ventilators available for serious covid patients in the state.

"Ventilators are a critical component in the war against Corona virus," president of the organization Donbok Dkhar said.

He said according to present rough estimates based on approximately 5 lakh residents of Shillong (not including the floating population), there could be as many as 25,000 serious Covid-19 cases requiring serious medical intervention including the use of ventilators.

Dkhar said it is also learnt that last year March 2020, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan provided/assured 300 life-saving ventilators to Meghalaya.

"These equipment are provided to the state government to ensure that fatalities are reduced to the minimum but little is known of whether the authorities are utilizing them or are they still in the store room," he siad.

He also said that while other states have commenced training their support staff and frontline workers on using a ventilator as well as treat and care for patients who are on ventilator support.

"We are given to understand that no such activity has been conceived yet in the state or even if it has been conceived, yet implementation is far-fetched, thereby indicating non usage of such vital life saving equipment despite being in ample possession," he said.

He added, "We must all understand that this pandemic is nothing new that developed overnight. It has been a long drawn and painful process and no one knows better than the major chunk of the state's population that belong to the BPL category who have struggled, toiled and cried for survival over the last 12 months."

Further he said, Without any intent to undermine the ongoing efforts of the state government, the organisation would iterate here the need to immediately put to use the said ventilators and any other available equipment that could even be stuck due to red tapism lest it be said 'We fell short'.

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