Improve healthcare facilities in rural areas to combat Covid-19 pandemic: Shaheen

Expresses concern over steep rise in Covid-19 cases

  Banihal: Cautioning the J&K Administration to focus on improvement in the health sector and to provide infrastructure and basic health care facilities to tackle any exigency in district Ramban in view of the sharp surge in Covid-19 cases especially in rural and  far flung areas, National Conference leader and District President, Ramban  Sajjad Shaheen on Wednesday, said that the entire district Ramban especially Banihal constituency lacks advance and specialised health care facilities, shortage of medical and para-medical staff, non-availability of life saving medicines adding that there are not enough facilities in the local rural hospitals to treat patients who are in serious condition.

 Shaheen further said that there is inadequate infrastructure in District Hospital Ramban, Sub-District Hospital Banihal, PHCs Ukharhal,  Allinabas, CHCs Ramsoo, Khari, Buzla, Neel, Nowgam, Mahu-Mangit Pogal, Senabati and other sub centres in Banihal constituency.

He urged upon the Administration to take steps to improve health care facilities in all the hospitals in District Ramban especially in far-off areas of Banihal constituency.Expressing serious concern over steep surge in COVID-19 cases during the deadly second wave in the state particularly in district Ramban in the last few weeks, Shaheen said that the continuous surge of Covid-19 positive cases is a matter of grave concern as Covid-19 cases are increasing significantly in the district.

 He has demanded setting up of a full fledged emergency COVID-19 hospital in Banihal with adequate facilities of ventilators and other necessary equipments in view of the alarmingly increasing Covid-19 cases in Banihal to cater the Covid-19 positive cases.

 Shaheen has urged upon the administration to scale up sampling and testing facilities in the district to reduce the spread of the virus and take a combination of containment and mitigation measures to slow the spread of the COVID-19 and ensure  sufficient supply of Medical Oxygen, essential medicines and other necessary requirements at all Covid Care Centers so that patients and medical staff do not face any difficulty in the time of need.He has also appealed to the people to follow the guidelines laid by the District and local Administration, Health department and strictly adhere to Covid-19 appropriate behaviour like wearing masks and maintaining physical distancing. He also urged every eligible person to take the Covid-19 vaccine without any hesitation  to minimise the impact of the deadly virus.