Mentioning that there are three oxygen producing plants, including a private firm in the state, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that there is enough stock of medical oxygen in the state.
He was speaking at the distribution ceremony of Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance organised by the Directorate of Health Services at the Chief Minister’s Bungalow on Saturday.
Speaking at the function as chief guest, Biren said there are around 1,098 D-type oxygen cylinders and 242 oxygen concentrator machines are available, he said. The government has put measures to control panic buying of oxygen from private firms, he added.
He said that the state has taken up appropriate steps to prevent from oxygen shortage which is a burning issue in highly affected COVID-19 states of India. Around 1,000 Remdesivir ampoules which is considered as life-saving drug against COVID-19 have also been procured and will reach on April 25, he added.
He called upon the people of the state to strictly utilise their civic sense and self-discipline as a strong means to prevent themselves from getting infected by COVID-19. He said that although there has been a sudden surge of COVID-19 in the state from the past few days with the crossing of daily positive cases above the 100 mark, the people are still neglecting COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour, he said. Such instances are more prevalent in rural and hill areas where police personnel rarely visit.
It is not possible to reach each and every corner of the state by police personnel to check whether the people are following the COVID-19 SoPs or not, he said. As the situation is becoming serious, it is of utmost need that the public use their common sense and maintain some self-discipline instead of waiting for the frontline warriors to monitor every citizen.
Concerning the distribution of BLS ambulances donated by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), he extended gratitude to the donors for providing 15 BLS ambulances which will mainly be used for highway accident management and other emergency services.
The state faced shortages of ambulances in the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic and 14 ambulances were purchased by the government to fill up the shortages, he said. So far, the state is managing with 26 ambulances and the adding of 15 more ambulances donated by NHIDCL, will help in enhancing ambulance service to a great extent, he further said, assuring that the state would procure new ambulances if there are needs in the future.
Of the 15 BLS ambulances which were donated today, one each was handed over to Kakching Primary Health Centre, Thanlon Primary Health Centre Pherzawl, Ukhrul District Headquarter and Haochong Primary Health Centre, Noney, he said.
Mentioning about the number of ambulances that have been operating in various places of Manipur, he said that there are two BLS and one advanced life support (ALS) ambulance in Imphal West; one ALS and one BLS ambulance in Imphal East; one BLS ambulance in Thoubal; one BLS ambulance in Bishnupur; one ALS ambulance in Churachandpur, one ALS ambulance in Chandel; one ALS ambulance in Kakching; one ALS ambulance in Tengnoupal; one BLS ambulance in Kamjong; one ALS ambulance in Ukhrul; one BLS ambulance in Chingai; one BLS and one ALS ambulance in Senapati; one ALS ambulance in Kangpokpi; one BLS ambulance in Noney; one BLS ambulance in Pherzawl; one ALS and one BLS ambulance in Jiribam, one ALS ambulance in Tamenglong; one BLS ambulance at COVID Care Centre RD Wings Lamphel and one ALS and one BLS ambulance at the Directorate of Health Services are servicing in the state.
General manager of NHIDCL, colonel Sanjay Kumar said that the maximum projects for highways road construction of Manipur to improve connectivity in the state are done by NHIDCL. Currently, the company is working for 18 major projects with a total cost of Rs 15,000 crore.
He further said that the company will extend best efforts to enhance road connectivity in the state as they are the basic needs for holistic development. For this, he appealed to the state government to support them in meeting the ground challenges whenever they come. The programme was also attended by officials from the Health department, concerned officials, MLAs etc.
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