HITO asks Govt to utilize 300 life saving ventilators

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 13, 2021

The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) has urged the state government to utilize the 300 life-saving ventilators sanctioned by the Centre last year, for effective tackling the COVID-19 situation.

In a letter to the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday, HITO president Donbok Dkhar said the Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan in March, last year has provided 300 life-saving ventilators to Meghalaya.

He said 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.

“Without any intent to undermine the ongoing efforts of the state government, we 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’,” Dkhar said.

Stating that ventilators are a critical component in the war against Corona virus, Dkhar claimed that 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.

The president also pointed out that the 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.

(However), 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