Cabinet sub-committee to take a decision: Health Minister
Jamshedpur, April 15: The State Government is planning to come up with dedicated mortuaries and cremation land following protest over burial of a positive patient at Ranchi.
According to information, the cabinet sub-committee formed to monitor plans to meet the challenges association with the Covid-19 pandemic will discuss the formation of dedicated mortuaries and cremation land for Covid-19 death cases.
State health minister, Banna Gupta who has been given the responsibility for coordination of the sub-committee said that the first meeting would be held on Thursday at state secretariat in Nepal House and a final decision on setting up of dedicated mortuaries and cremation land for Covid-19 death cases amongst other issues will be taken.
� We have come to know about the protest at Ratu graveyard from local residents over burial of a Covid-19 positive patient. We discussed at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday. We are planning of setting up special mortuaries in at least dedicated Covid-19 hospitals across the state for Covid-19 death cases. This apart, we are also planning to identify lands far away from inhabited areas for cremation/burial of Covid-19 patients. However, the final decision would be taken by the sub-committee in its meeting on Thursday,� said Gupta.
Significantly, the cabinet sub-committee comprises state finance minister Rameshwar Oraon, state labour minister Satyanand Bhokta, state transport minister Champai Soren and Banna Gupta.
�We need to understand the sentiments of public. We do not want to build confidence of public after the death of a Covid-19 patient.� It was disheartening to read from papers that the dead body of the Covid-19 patient in Ranchi was kept for hours in an ambulance instead of a mortuary. We want to have such special mortuaries in at least Covid-19 dedicated hospitals which would be at a small distance from the regular mortuary to avoid any controversies amongst masses,� suggested Gupta.
Gupta has also formed a five-member Covid-19 assistance committee and released their mobile number for any assistance on Covid-19 issues 24×7. The committee is functioning from the MGM Hospital at Sakchi.
Gupta said that the Government is keeping an eye on the spread of the virus and proactive masures are being taken to control the situation.
He went on to add that the situation is better in the state. The committee will help in any type assistance required to fight the virus. People can contact the committee members required for the assistance. The committee will also lend its support to the health department.
It may be mentioned here that as of now MGM Medical College testing unit can test a maximum of 40 samples daily while RIMS in Ranchi can accommodate 90 in a day.