CHAIRMAN of the State Administration Council Prime Minister of the Provisional Government of Myanmar Senior General Min Aung Hlaing addressed the 9th coordination meeting on COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment activities yesterday morning in Nay Pyi Taw.
The meeting was also attended by
Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister
Vice-Senior General Soe Win, members of the Council, Union Ministers, Tatmadaw
Officials, and the Region/State Chief Ministers joined the meeting through
videoconferencing.
Firstly, Chairman of the State
Administration Council Prime Minister of the Provisional Government Senior
General Min Aung Hlaing said the rate of COVID-19 disease infection has dropped
due to the supervision of the relevant authorities and the good cooperation of
the people, adding the need to diagnose the contact persons of the COVID-19
positive patients in order to continue to reduce the infection and to be
cautious despite the decline rate in virus infection.
He said the COVID-19 outbreak has
caused travel problems and affected production, and amid the striving for
living, there are people trading foods and essential medicines with greed. Due
to systematic inspections, the high prices of medicines have returned to normal
in recent months in Yangon and Mandalay.
The Government has been making a concerted
effort to get the COVID-19 vaccines during the difficult time to provide the
people with the vaccines as soon as possible, as vaccinated people are more
resistant to the disease infection, he continued. The Prime Minister stressed
the need to effectively take action against the traders of counterfeit COVID-19
vaccines.
Afterwards, those present at the meeting
discussed the preventive measures of variant viruses spreading in the
neighbouring countries; the need to use oxygen cylinders with SOP guidelines;
disaster preparedness in various hospitals; healthcare service to be provided
to healthcare workers; posting of immunization status on WHO and ASEAN
Websites; vaccine arrival and status of re-orders and coordination to
re-purchase; status of plans to develop COVID-19 vaccine locally; international
humanitarian assistant of COVID-19 vaccines and related equipment; importation
status of essential medical supplies; education programmes on healthcare and
entertainment programmes on newspapers, television and radio; primary foods
being sold in mobile carts to avoid food shortages; services in quarantine
centres and construction of oxygen plants, production of essential medical
supplies locally; operation of garment factories under the COVID-19 guidelines;
COVID-19 vaccines plantation of more than 80,000 factories workers as of 22
August and further plans.
Union Ministers for the respective
regions and states briefed on the COVID-19 vaccinations in the regions of
ethnic armed forces; implementation to vaccinate more than 5 million IDPs in
Kachin State, Shan State, Kayin State and Rakhine State in this week, and the
systematic record of vaccinated people in regions and states.
The Chairman of the State
Administration Council said to encourage the operation of garment factories
under the COVID-19 guidelines and to coordinate as necessary.
In his concluding speech, the SAC
Chairman Prime Minister said that it needs to conduct healthcare services
including prevention, control and treatment activities continuously as the
mutation of COVID-19 is occurring. The WHO and other health organizations set
the norms and all should follow them. The relevant organizations and heads of
respective regions/ states also should strictly control the public in order to
follow the health rules.
He then stressed the need to
upgrade the hospitals, establish the township, station and district hospitals
by observing the figures of international hospitals and set up the ICU for
other diseases. He also pleaded that the government will provide cash
assistance in implementing these operations. The hospital staff, Tatmadaw and
social organizations need to cooperate for these processes including the
upgrade of hospitals and cleansing operations.
Regarding the need for oxygen, he said,” What
I want to say now is oxygen-related matters. The oxygen demand rose in June and
July. Meanwhile, all strived to get oxygen. The highest demand was 31,298
cylinders on 18 July according to the global monitoring indicator. We found the
demand was 18,667 on 20 July. We can produce more than 40,000 currently. I mean
we can produce more than the highest demands. However, I want the oxygen in the
hospital to be clean and systematically produced. I’ve already highlighted it
in previous meetings. Please produce even the oxygen cylinders systematically
and try to be clean oxygen. Then, all speak out about oxygen especially in
townships like in remote areas. For example, Nanyun township. The Kachin and
Chin states and the Sagaing region are just like Nanyun township. It is a
little difficult to get there. It is easier to get to Lahe via Khamti. I
mention just for an example. For another example, Manaung where we can reach by
aircraft and by ship if the weather is fine. There is no road transportation.
Manaung Kyun must obtain the chance (for oxygen). They can survive in their own
ways. For the remote areas in states and regions, all should try hard
regardless of the areas even for the electricity. For example, the small-scale
hydropower project. If it can generate 500kW, 1000kW or 200kW, 300kW, they
should contact them for the oxygen plants. There is nothing more important than
human beings and lives.”
He also gave instructions regarding
the importation processes of anti-COVID-19-related materials and equipment via
border trade camps, air and sea without any delays, and inspections on the
illegal trade of restricted drugs and counterfeit medicines.
He continued that the Ministry of Information
is conducting education programmes and the respective regions and states should
accelerate the educative campaigns, especially in ethnic areas.
He said that the frontline
healthcare workers and other employees of manufacturing organizations,
transport services, defence services and security members and their family
members need to be in good health and so, it should conduct vaccination
programmes as per the priority groups. The Tatmadaw (air) provides the needed
assistance in transporting the vaccines across the nation. Elderly people have
a higher mortality rate, accounting for 80 per cent of all deaths is over the
age of 50. Therefore, elderly people are prioritized for vaccines.
Currently, the country receives 8
million vaccines and uses 6 million while 2 million are for second doses. On
the other hand, people should have a proper immune system and do exercise.
In conclusion, he urged to run the manufacturing, agriculture and livestock industries to ensure food security. It should make efforts for the better economic system of people and country. If the individuals have good-wills for the country, they can accomplish their works and it can also provide the development of the country and living standards of the public.
MNA
#The_Global_New_Light_Of_Myanmar
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