The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) on Tuesday flagged its concern over the Centre’s observation that several Covid-19 affected districts in the state lack critical health infrastructure.
Assam has 43 Covid cases, of whom one has died.
Last week, the Centre, presenting a detailed account of the Covid-fighting infrastructure, said at least 19 out of 33 districts in Assam have fewer than 100 isolation beds.
AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi said, “The Covid-19 threat has exposed the state’s inadequate health infrastructure. The Centre’s report revealed that Assam has insufficient isolation beds, ICUs and ventilators in a majority of the districts. It is a matter of concern.”
He said the health department had to stress on stepping up its testing mechanism as the stranded have started returning home. He also praised the frontline medical staff for their role in fighting the coronavirus threat.
The previous survey report, National Preparedness Survey on Covid-19, by the department of administrative reforms and public grievances, in April had highlighted that districts like Nalbari, Dima Hasao, Karimganj, Sonitpur and Udalguri have inadequate ICUs and ventilators.
The survey warned that homecoming of large numbers of migrants from other states may pose a serious challenge to Assam.
Following the Centre’s report, when Rajya Sabha MP and Assam Congress president Ripun Bora questioned health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma about the situation on Twitter, Sarma replied: “Unfortunately or fortunately Assam recovery rate is much more than the national average and no red zone as of now. All these have been possible for the support of the people of Assam which obviously include every member of your party @ripunbora.”
He had said the continued improvement in containing the outbreak had led the government to drop its plan of setting up five pre-fabricated hospitals and instead deciding to revamp the existing hospitals by installing 1,000 ICUs with donations of over Rs 100 crore received from the people.
In April, Gauhati Medical College Hospital, designated as a Covid-19 hospital, created a special ICU ward of 50 beds and increased the total number of ICUs from 75 to 162.
Sarma said, “The state government is also encouraging private hospitals to set up Covid-19 testing facilities and exploring possibilities of increasing the capacity with a public-private partnership mechanism and help us test the stranded people when they return.”