Newmai News Network
Tura | April 19
Opposition leader and former Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma has urged the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government and concerned officials to come up with a comprehensive plan before initiating any move to bring back the people of the state who are stranded in various parts of the country in the ongoing COVID-19 issue.
The former Chief Minister of Meghalaya stressed the importance of how any such evacuation is going to be done while underlining that any efforts towards this end should be carried out properly and comprehensively.
Dr Sangma felt that a frontline team is required to support those coming back with every district taking advance action for planned accommodation so that those returning are kept in quarantine.
“Are we talking about just bringing back or evacuating our own children who have gone outside in search of better academic careers and livelihood and got stranded due to lockdown without a comprehensive plan? What happens after the lockdown is lifted?” said the Congress leader on Sunday.
Dr Sangma also said that a comprehensive plan will help authorities keep a tab on who is being brought in or evacuated based on who wants to come back and who doesn’t.
“Those who want to come back will be compulsorily screened and only people with no symptom should be allowed to return. People with symptoms should have tests and follow up treatment in the states where they are,” felt Dr Sangma.
For those wishing to return to the state, Dr Sangma felt that upon arrival, they should be subjected to proper medical screening and collection of personal history of nature of work, daily activities, travel history during last 40 days at least.
“This will enable to identify and classify vulnerability and testing can be done in order. All should be tested on arrival and before leaving the quarantine centres,” felt Dr Sangma.
Dr Sangma also said that the present scenario is recipe for anxiety and mental stress which could lead to further medical issues for those that are stranded outside the state.
“Many of the stranded migrant workers and students are having mental depression. Many parents and family members are suffering from anxiety. It is a recipe for many critical ailments like hypertension, diabetes, acute psychological disorder, etc; besides suppression of immune system of a person and resultant vulnerability to disease,” said Dr Sangma.
Pointing out that there is no certainty on when the current lockdown will be lifted, Dr. Sangma said, “If our children are left out, they will land up coming in overcrowded trains and become more vulnerable”.
“Even then, if they are brought in, the same stringent measures including measures for quarantine and testing will have to be done,” he added.
Dr Sangma also opined the 14-day quarantine is not enough while adding that this should be at least 28 days of quarantine.
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