Union Health Minister reviews Covid situation in NE States Rs 1,352.92 Cr aid for region announced

GUWAHATI, Aug 18 (PIB)
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a review meeting on Public Health Response to COVID-19 with the Health Ministers of North East States in Assam yesterday.
The Minister arrived in Assam with a Central Team to review the COVID-19 situation in the region.
The Minister announced a special package of Rs 1,352.92 crore for North Eastern States to strengthen its health infrastructure to fight the pandemic effectively. Utilising this fund the States can enhance the health facilities to combat the pandemic more aggressively, the Minister said.
The Minister also said that this fund will assist the States to procure medicines, keep buffer stock, for keeping adequate stock of oxygen and  creation of sufficient number of beds in hospitals at district and local levels including beds for ICUs.
The Minister assured that Centre will ensure regular supply of vaccines to the States of North East so that maximum number of people are vaccinated within the next few months.
The Union Health Minister also informed that in-depth discussions were held during the review meeting where State Health Ministers offered their suggestions to combat the pandemic better in this region and to achieve vaccination for their people at the shortest possible time.
The Minister appreciated the State Governments of the North East States for their efforts to control the spread of the pandemic during the period when this region was hit by the second wave.
When enquired about the possible threat of third wave in the North East region, the Minister was hopeful that the State Governments are fully prepared and are equipped to thwart the possible third wave in the region.
The Minister also informed that Centre has been constantly monitoring the situation of Covid in the region and is committed to provide all necessary assistance to all the States to tackle the pandemic better.
In today’s meeting the Health Minister of Assam Keshav Mahanta and Ministers from other States of North East gave an overview of Covid situation and their strategies to combat the pandemic in their respective States through brief presentations.
Health Ministers of Sikkim, Mizoram and Nagaland were present in yesterday’s deliberation, while the Education and Law Minister of Tripura and Adviser of Chief Minister, Manipur represented their respective States in the review meeting. Senior officials of the State Government and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare were present in the meeting.