TUR oppose govt’s move to construct prefab corona care centres

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 27, 2021

The Thma U Rangli-Juki (TUR) has expressed strong opposition against the state government’s decision to construct prefab structures for the setting up of two corona health centres at Shillong and Tura.

In a statement issued on Thursday, TUR leader Angela Rangad said the organization is concerned about the government’s plan to once again go on an unnecessary spending spree of wasting 6.7 crore towards construction of 2 prefab centers at Shillong and Tura, that are to have 100 beds each, at the cost of 2.5 crore each.

“We urge the government to utilise this money in creating and upgrading of ICU facilities in district towns where even ventilators and fully equipped ambulances are not available at District Civil hospitals,” she said.

She continued that it is shocking that persons who need intensive care have to rush to Shillong and Tura and that even ambulances for transporting them are not available.

According to her, the market price of ventilators are 14 lakhs each and 2 crores can fetch at least another 14 ventilators which are desperately required given that the ventilators provided by the PM cares funds were all unfit for use.

“In fact the state government should have made this known to the public and raised a stern objection with the Modi led BJP central government,” she stated.

Further, the TUR leader also questioned as to where are the 25 ambulances which the government had procured in July last year.

“Additionally, the government announced 75 crores towards upgrading of PHCs. What was acquired and achieved with this needs to be immediately informed to the public,” she further asked.

Stating that scientists warn that we are likely to face several waves of this pandemic, and it will also become endemic, Rangad said, “We therefore need long term planning and not indulge in piecemeal planning and useless expenditure.”

“It is imperative that the state’s crumbling healthcare infrastructure is revamped and hence resources judiciously used towards this and also towards skill building and ensuring trained human resource availability,” she asserted.

On the government’s request to local bodies to help with community covid care centres, Rangad however said resources should be made available towards this effort.

Meanwhile, TUR also demanded the government to  make known the “formula” that they will be used for calculating MHIS support for covid hospitalisation.