Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Govindas Konthoujam has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the present Manipur government has completely failed in saving the lives of people from the pandemic in the state.
In a letter addressed to Modi on Wednesday, Govindas expressed concern over the preparedness of the state government to tackle a third wave which has been stated to be inevitable by the principal scientific advisor of the Prime Minister though the media.
“It is indeed, a matter of the tragic handling of the present Covid crisis in the state by the chief minister, who is also the Health minister,” he alleged in the letter.
It further alleged that “the chief minister has even conveniently forgotten his own physical inspection of land, and public assurance of building an Emergency Covid Hospital in the form of a 200 bedded building at Langthabal, Imphal on March 30, 2020 to fight the first wave in the state.”
The MPCC president also claimed that the surge in the mortality and infection rate due to COVID would have been much lower and slower if the Emergency COVID Hospital was built.
Moreover, the district hospitals in each district of the state are not adequately equipped with ICU, ventilators, oxygen and requisite equipment, and they are short of doctors, nurses and staff, it stated. As a result, there is a genuine fear of chaotic situations in the rural and hill districts of the state, the letter added.
Govindas urged the Prime Minister to intervene and suggest immediate establishment of a 1,000 bedded Covid hospital by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and Indian Army to combat the second wave in the state, it stated.
He also suggested Centre’s assistance with strict instructions under Prime Minister's office to fully equip all the district hospitals in Manipur with a minimum of 100 beds each immediately to fight the second wave in the state.
Free vaccination for all, including those between 18 and 45 years, must be expedited on war footing, and assure regular supply of vaccine in the state, the letter added.
