No alarming rise in cases along Indo-Bangla border: Shylla
Shillong, Aug 19: The state Health department has stepped up surveillance in border areas following reports of dengue cases in Bangladesh even as no alarming trend has been noticed in such areas so far.
“We have directed our teams, especially those in border areas, to remain on alert,” Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla told reporters on Tuesday.
“As of now, we have not received any alarming reports from these areas.”
Shylla said surveillance teams are actively monitoring the situation and that Sub-Centres, PHCs and CHCs across the state and they have been asked to report any suspected cases immediately.
“There is no increasing trend at present. Some cases are usually there, but we have not seen any surge, especially given what is happening in our neighbouring country,” he said.
Shylla added that health facilities and surveillance teams remain on high alert and will continue to take stock of the situation.
Inspection of Byrnihat health facilities
The Health Minister, meanwhile, said the department is implementing High Court directions to improve facilities at Byrnihat CHC.
A department team has already inspected health facilities in Byrnihat area following the Court’s order, Shylla said.
The minister noted that while cases do exist, state data does not reflect the scale mentioned by the Court.
He said the Court has asked for specific upgrades, including X-Ray, a technician and a chest specialist at the CHC, and that instructions have been issued to the department to comply at the earliest.
On the Court’s figures, Shylla said the government will ascertain the source.
“We have to check from where the High Court has got this data. We will work on that and verify and come up with a report,” he added.
NEIGRIHMS facilities underutilised
Meanwhile, Shylla informed that he would meet NEIGRIHMS management on Wednesday to address public concerns and discuss the institute’s Institute of National Importance status.
He said the meeting aims to improve local trust in the multi-speciality hospital, which he feels is underutilized by people of the state.
“NEIGRIHMS is a very big institute with a multi-speciality hospital, but it is not being taken advantage of by the locals,” he said.
“I want to meet the management to ask what they are planning to do to earn the confidence and trust of the people to take treatment at NEIGRIHMS,” he added.
Shylla said the INI status of the institute will also be a key point of discussion.
“There are other issues also, like what they have done regarding the INI status of NEIGRIHMS,” he said.
