COVID-19 update: Himanta Biswa Sarma visits Silchar Medical College and Hospital

Silchar: Assam health minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) on Thursday to take stock of the preparedness in connection with the spread and outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Himanta reached the hospital around 11:30am on Thursday morning and held a meeting in which the hospital's principal Dr. Babul Bezbaruah, excise and fisheries minister Parimal Suklabaidya, Silchar MP Rajdeep Roy, deputy speaker Aminul Haque Laskar, Silchar MLA Dilip Kumar Paul and deputy commissiones of the three districts of the valley were present. During the one-hour meeting, Himanta discussed the issue with them thoroughly and sought co-operation of everyone to combat the crisis.

Interacting with reporters, the health minister said various departments of SMCH like dermatology, psychiatry, ENT and ophthalmology would be transformed to Satindra Mohan Dev Civil Hospital and that arrangements would be made at SMCH to deal specifically with coronavirus-related cases.

"Private hospitals will be engaged for treatment of SMCH's general patients. MBBS final year students of the hospital will be trained to deal with coronavirus related cases," Himanta said.

The health minister said medical screening of 27 persons had been done at SMCH so far and all were found negative. Screening of five persons were done on Thursday. The reports are yet to be available, he said. Further, Himanta appealed everyone to follow the government order off the lock down across the country in view of the spread of COVID-19.

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