State to constitute advisory committee on Covid-19

Dimapur, April 26 (EMN): In order to formulate long term strategies to deal with Covid-19, State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has decided to constitute an advisory committee on Covid-19 comprising experts from medicine, socio-economic, supply chain, disaster management and emergency response to advice the state government to take incremental comprehensive measures on the containment of Covid-19.

The decision to this effect was taken during a meeting convened by the chief minister and SDMA chairman, Neiphiu Rio, on April 25 held in his residential office, Kohima, at 3 pm. The meeting was convened to review the preparedness and mitigation measures being undertaken by the state government in the wake of Covid-19.

An update from SDMA stated the advisory committee would also seek advice of international experts as and when the need arises. SDMA has also approved to bring out blue print of the state Covid-19 response and control programme in order to have an incremental containment of Covid-19.

It stated that the members reviewed the preparedness and mitigation measures taken by the state government in regard to Covid-19 such as containment/ contingency plan, procurement of medical equipment/ essential goods, setting up of BSL- lab, distribution of relief rice in all districts, financial assistance to the stranded students, working people and patients, activation of surveillance team, setting up of war room and state-level control room, setting up of control room in all districts and sealing of international border along Myanmar and inter-state border.

It added that the members have expressed satisfaction at the activities undertaken by the SDMA in dealing with the crisis.

Besides officials from the SDMA and state executive committee (SEC), ministers including Kaito Aye, Pangnyu Phom, CM Chang, and advisors Pukhayi, Dr. N Kire along with the chief secretary Temjen Toy, additional chief secretary and development commissioner J Alam, principal secretary of Health Menukhol John, principal secretary of Urban Development Himato Zhimomi, principal secretary of Home Abhijit Sinha and other senior officers from the departments of PWD, Health and Family Welfare, Food and Civil Supplies, Forest and Environment, Police, Home Guards and Civil Defence, Fire and Emergency Services, Rural Development and Urban Development attended the meeting.