Meghalaya govt seeks Centre’s help in procuring additional ventilators
Shillong, March 29:
Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Minister, Alexander Laloo Hek today urged upon the Centre to help in procuring 50 numbers of additional ventilators for various hospitals in the State.
"At a critical point of time, ventilators will make the difference between life and death for a COVID-19 affected patient. The State would be able to stock upto 70 ventilators only in the coming weeks. There are at least 9 out of 11 districts in the State which still doesn't have a ventilator. We are unable to source adequate ventilators at our level. I request the Union Government in procuring 50 numbers of additional ventilators for various hospitals in the State," Hek stated in the letter addressed to Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan.
On the availability of personal protection equipment, he said that the State has about 2500 personal protection equipments in stock and an expected lot of 5000 would be required.
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"On an average, 25 bedded isolation ward filled with patients would require 75 PPEs on a day. "We are trying to reach a capacity of over 100 beds for which we require around 65,000 PPEs for a period of three weeks use. In addition, we may also require PPEs for ambulance drivers and ground level workers which would make it upto 75,000 PPEs. As a region, there are no factories producing PPEs. For entire supply, we are dependent upon Maharastra, Gujarat, Delhi and other States", he said.
Furthermore, he stated that there is a also a feedback that many states are informally issuing moratorium to the manufacturers to prioritise for their respective States," Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Minister stated.
Hek also mentioned that 95 masks are the first protection drive for the frontline worker adding that there is also acute shortage of masks in the country.
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"Sourcing and delivery has become a major point of concern. If such crucial materials availability can be centrally provided to the State it would go a long way in dealing with the pandemic," he said.
Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Minister also urged upon the Centre to explore the possibilities of funding the Information and Broadcasting Wing of the State to build their capacity now so that the details reach the last mile.
"The State is in dire need of ambulances for transportation of patients especially COVID-19 affected," Hek added.
