Tomo Riba Institute of Health & Medical Science (TRIHMS), the lone medical college hospital of Arunachal Pradesh, has been designated as the COVID-19 hospital.
This was decided by Chief Minister Pema Khandu in a meeting in Itanagar on Thursday.
The meeting was attended by TRIHMS and state health officials.
Khandu suggested that other hospitals like the Itanagar-based Rama Krishna Mission Hospital (RKMH) will take over the responsibility to take care of routine health issues of the people.
No positive cases have been detected in Arunachal Pradesh so far.
Encouraging the fact, Khandu, however, cautioned against complacency.
“Everybody, especially the health department, has to remain on their toes for any eventuality,” Khandu said.
“We have to be well prepared for any kind of mass outbreak of the disease, which has no cure yet,” he said.
“We will need to put all our resources to tackle any kind of emergency situation,” he added.
“Therefore, it is but necessary for us to have a separate hospital with adequate facilities to deal with the pandemic,” Khandu asserted.
He requested TRIHMS to share manpower and expertise of the college in the fight against the virus.
Khandu expressed grave concern over the reported supply of poor quality Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to doctors and health workers.
He said the supplied PPEs have been withdrawn and the government has ordered fresh procurement.
“We will not compromise with the safety of our frontline workers and legal action has been initiated against the defaulters,” he said.
The Chief Minister directed that all PPE consignments must be vetted by a technical team before disbursement to the health workers.
Appealing people not to panic but stay at home, he said the state government is in constant touch with its Assam counterpart and ensuring free and timely flow of essential commodities.
“As there’s no cure for the disease, prevention through social distancing is the only way out,” Khandu said.
“I appeal all to please take the lockdown seriously and stay in your homes. We will ensure that there is no scarcity of essential commodities,” Khandu appealed.
He also appealed for religiously following the social distancing advice while buying essential commodities both by customers and vendors.
While assuring cooperation and support to all those who are being quarantined or have taken self-quarantine, Khanduurged Arunachalee students stranded in various parts of the country due to the lockdown not to panic.
Instructions have been given to all Resident Commissioners and Deputy Resident Commissioners to extend all possible help to such students as called for.
Meanwhile, as announced by the Chief Minister through a video message a day earlier, the state government today approved sanction of Rs 1000 aid to all BPL cardholders of the state.