THE Ministry of Health and Sports held the coordination meeting with the COVID-19 pan[1]demic Advisory Board on the COVID-19 disease prevention and control activities yesterday morning in Nay Pyi Taw.

Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr Thet Khaing Win said the hospital bed manage[1]ment and oxygen requirements are being given special priority since the outbreak of COVID-19 is on the rise, adding the human resource is currently the main challenge as the healthcare is being provided to the people with 60 per cent of the Ministry’s staff.

Arrangements are being made to open the Thuwunna COVID-19 centre and accept patients in South Okkalapa Hos[1]pital and Phaung Gyi COVID-19 treatment centre. Phaung Gyi COVID-19 centre is being pre[1]pared to receive 200 patients at present. The arrangement will be made to accept up to 700 or 800 patients.

 The Union Minister said efforts are being made to max[1]imize oxygen production, to regularly operate oxygen gen[1]erators in hospitals and to pre[1]vent oxygen shortage. Liquid oxygen is being used in Yangon and Mandalay and installation has started in Nay Pyi Taw. The Ministry is also coordinating with companies to import the required liquid oxygen through borders.

 He said restrictions have been imposed in the country to reduce the spread of the disease under the law. The vaccination will continue by the priority groups to achieve 50% nation[1]wide immunization coverage by the end of this year. He urged do[1]nors, volunteers and experts to work together in the COVID-19 prevention and control activities. The Union Minister stressed that the Department must take strict measures to increase the capacity of the relevant township health department heads while efforts are being made to provide immediate treatment if the dis[1]ease is affected and to improve COVID-19 diagnosis.

 The patrons of the Advisory Board participated in the dis[1]cussion and the Union Minister and the Deputy Minister dis[1]cussed the short-term and long[1]term priorities to be followed.

MNA