THE fourth coordination meeting on the prevention, control and treatment of COVID-19 was held in Nay Pyi Taw and Chairman of the State Administration Council, Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing addressed the meeting.

The Chairman of the State Administration Council said the COVID-19 disease prevention, control and treatment activities are undertaken from the central level as well as in the respective states and regions while the rate of infection is found to be four to eight times faster with two to three variants at present.

He added the need to release daily information on the actual disease control and treatment activities to reduce the public concerns and urged the public to go to hospitals, clinics and quarantine centres instead of coping with the disease on their own at home. He said it is necessary to do researches on the disease and to develop a vaccine in Myanmar as the vaccines for Hepatitis B and Malaria, which were also manufactured in the country.

Regarding medical workers who have been absent from hospitals, he said some of the medical workers who have been participated in the CDM campaign are urged several times to return to work as the COVID-19 crisis has become a national matter, and some have returned and some do not for various reasons. He added, “I urged all the medical workers again to work together with the Ministry of Health and Sports at hospitals.”

He also said the efforts are being made to supply required oxygen, adding the need to conduct the disease awareness campaign while suppressing the spreading of rumours amongst the public; the plans that are underway to vaccinate people with four million doses that will arrive in the first week of August. He stressed the need for the first dose of the vaccine to be administered to the people as much as possible and to make sure the patients are provided necessary medication, masks, and food and to let them know that there is no restriction on having healthcare services.

Afterwards, the Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council and council members, Union Ministers, Tatmadaw officials and those who were present at the meeting online presented the COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment activities that are under implementation at present with the cooperation of healthcare workers and volunteers; COVID-19 vaccination programmes; expansion of quarantine centres, adequate oxygen supplies and oxygen plants; importation of the necessary anti-COVID-19 equipment and medical supplies; cooperation with the Russia Federation to develop the vaccine.

The Chairman of the State Administration Council the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services added that it is aimed to vaccinate 50 per cent of the population, however, efforts need to be made to vaccinate up to 70 per cent of the population. Political parties and civil society organizations are required to take part with Parahita (welfare of others)spirit in an effective way in control and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he stressed. Officials should see to it that people in need of help can contact the phone numbers of some hospitals, clinics and treatment centres.

A total of 2,327 quarantine centres have been established with over 30,000 healthcare workers, including Tatmadaw medics and specialists across the country and plans are underway to expand them. During the first and second wave of COVID-19, there was a 2 per cent of mortality rate and at present during the third wave, it is 2.346 per cent. Health workers and volunteers should wear full uniforms of PPE and cremation of the dead bodies also be systematically undertaken, he continued.

The Senior General also pointed out that there might be a shortage of doctors at certain hospitals so states/ regions health officials are necessary to coordinate with one hospital and another for the assignment or secondment of doctors, under a good management system, to the hospitals that have already been in shortage of doctors. He called for collective consultation and performance in such management as one cannot work alone. All parties concerned need to participate and perform ‘functions’ effectively in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, he stressed in conclusion.

Since the first wave to date, there have been more than 250,000 COVID-19 incidences and over 6,100 people have died of the disease in Myanmar.

MNA

PHOTO : MNA

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