With 14 dengue related deaths reported in Meghalaya in just two years, the stated Government has mooted all measures to reach out to various parts of the state including heard to reach areas to provide early testing of blood samples are on time medication.
Revamping its efforts to tackle the malaria Dengue related cases which are exacerbated by climate change, the state Government is using technology including social Media awareness problem.
Talking to Media persons, Health Minister Dr. M Ampareen Lyngdoh emphasized on the improved healthcare system and highlighted innovative approaches to reach hard-to-access areas.
She said in the state of Meghalaya, reaching remote health facilities has always been a logistical challenge. The rugged terrain and poor road network infrastructure have made it difficult to deliver medical supplies to these areas, and people have suffered as a result.
Stating that the health care system has improved many fold, Dr Lyngdoh said, “Even the unreachable distant locations which gets inundated during such seasons as now after heavy rain falls, our drones are reaching the remotest of the areas and we now have set up sub centres practically everywhere.”
She further informed that every sub centres are provided with a facility for quick testing of atleast basic ailments and our drone are again is utalise in heard to reach areas and sampling of bloods is immediately sent to nearest facility and we are covering.
“There will be 15-16 heard to reach areas and our drone centre at Jingjal is covering both the Garo belt as well as the West Khasi Hills belt which is the most vulnerable. These are the areas where there is vulnerable reach issue. We cannot reach these areas, we are working hard and as of today I don’t see any cause of alarm.”
Asked if these done can be used in the rainy season, Ampareen said, “ We have high tech drones which can be used during rainy or monsoon season, which can combat some of the difficult climatic situation in the state and we have been successful.”
To ensure access to quality healthcare for all, the government of Meghalaya through Meghalaya Health Systems Strengthening Project (MHSSP) initiated the innovative use of drones to address this issue.
Meanwhile, the health Minister also said the state Government will also provide Dengue malaria testing kits to ASHA workers, the first respondent in the health service.
“Like in the past we are partnering with the Asha workers who are first respondent in every health crisis, in any part of the country, we have set that we will increase our kits for testing to ASHAs because we have seen that the late reporting of fever prolong period is usually the cause for the casualty due to malaria or dengue,” the Minister said.
She also stressed the importance of achieving zero malaria cases through community involvement. She also stressed the importance of achieving zero malaria cases through community involvement.
“It was very unfortunate that in the last two years about 14 deaths of Malaria alone was reported in the state of Meghalaya, we are now looking at ways and means to ensure that this casualty is not as alarming as it was in the last two years,” Lyngdoh said.
Under 18 of age possibilities that they expose themselves likely to later night or later evening at it is. It is this group which is the most vulnerable yet they don’t know it. So we are trying to ensure that we create this awareness and we have already prepared enough messaging through various mediums,” she added.