Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday distributed banners and pamphlets to various societies and associations in the state in connection with a COVID-19 awareness campaign.

Advisor to Chief Minister (Health), Dr Sapam Rajan Singh, Principal Secretary (Health & Family Welfare), V Vumlunmang, Officials of different Departments, Anganwadi Workers, ASHA Workers, ANM Workers and representatives of drivers associations among others attended the event.

Banners and pamphlets which contain COVID Appropriate Behaviours like wearing mask, frequent hand washing and maintaining physical distancing, were distributed citing the need for giving awareness and mass involvement of every individual of the State in successfully fighting the deadly virus.

Biren Singh while addressing the media said that a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), taking into considerations the role to be played by locals club and other stakeholders, will be issued for implementation and appealed to the people of the state to strictly comply the SOP so that we could collectively work together and defeat COVID-19.

He further stated that obeying the SoPs would be the only means to combat this pandemic.

He also added that a new Office with a toll-free number will be opened soon, with the involvement of local clubs, Civil Society Organisations, ASHA workers among others, to give mass awareness to individuals residing in every nook and corners of the State.

He also maintained that a new way of fighting the pandemic had become necessary with the involvement of each and every citizen of the State as prevention from the pandemic depends much on the behaviour of each individual.

He further stated that treatment of COVID-19 has now been covered under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme and the State Government would also soon approve such coverage of treatment under the Chief Minister-gi Hakshelgi Tengbang, a state health scheme.

In order to motivate the frontline workers to provide their valuable services in the same pace, frontline workers would be covered with a life insurance scheme till 2021, he added.

Informing the media about the expenditure made by the State Government on COVID-19, he said that a total of around Rs 62 crore had been spent so far.

he Government is also taking up steps to increase the number of beds at the district level to ensure necessary treatment of COVID patient at their respective districts, he added.

Sobhapati Samom is Northeast Now Correspondent in Imphal. He can be reached at: [email protected]