Shillong, May 28: In order to better monitor, coordinate and manage the efforts to deal with the COVID crisis, Meghalaya Government has formed a 5-member Special Committee for COVID Management in the Garo Hills region. The committee will be headed by the Commissioner of Divisions, Garo Hills Region, Dr. D. Vijay Kumar as its Chairperson.
A notification from the State Health and Family Welfare Department on Thursday said the committee has been formed to cater to the special need of the Districts under the Garo Hills Division, given the challenges of the communication system, problem of accessibility and the shortage of manpower in the various hospitals and the PHCs/CHCs.
Jt. Director of Health Services (MCH&FW), Dr. S. Nongbri has been designated as the Senior Official, Directorate of Health Services (DHS) of the special committee. Jt. Director Garo Hills Unit cum Medical Superintendent, Tura Civil Hospital, Tura, Dr. Minakshi Sangma; Director, Social Welfare Department, D.D.Shira; and Jt. Secy. to the Government of Meghalaya, H&FW Department, D.D. Sangma are the three other members of the committee.
Chief Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, M.S.Rao said the chairperson of the committee is entrusted to take charge of monitoring the strengthening of the Health System in the Region which will include the immediate requirements of Oxygen supported beds, training of personnel for critical care management, meeting the need for additional manpower, setting up of the CICs/CCCs/CCCCs, implementing the system of the mobile medical teams etc.
The Senior Official Representative of the DHS has been tasked with supervision of the requirements of all the District Hospitals in Garo Hills with a specific focus on the efficient management and strengthening of the Civil Hospital, Tura.
The Committee shall participate in the review video conferences (VCs) being conducted by the Health & Family Welfare Department for updating the status of the COVID situation in the Garo Hills Region.
A member from the State Level COVID-I9 Communication Co-ordination Unit will be deputed to assist the Committee in all matters relating to COVID-I9 communication.
