MoHS discusses COVID-19 disease prevention and control activities

The Ministry of Health and Sports held the coordination meeting with the COVID-19 pandemic Advisory Board on the COVID-19 disease prevention and control activities yesterday morning in Nay Pyi Taw.
Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr Thet Khaing Win said the hospital bed management and oxygen requirements are being given special priority since the outbreak of COVID-19 is on the rise, adding the human resource is currently the main challenge as the healthcare is being provided to the people with 60 per cent of the Ministry’s staff.
Arrangements are being made to open the Thuwunna COVID-19 centre and accept patients in South Okkalapa Hospital and Phaung Gyi COVID-19 treatment centre. Phaung Gyi COVID-19 centre is being prepared to receive 200 patients at present. The arrangement will be made to accept up to 700 or 800 patients.
The Union Minister said efforts are being made to maximize oxygen production, to regularly operate oxygen generators in hospitals and to prevent oxygen shortage. Liquid oxygen is being used in Yangon and Mandalay and installation has started in Nay Pyi Taw. The Ministry is also coordinating with companies to import the required liquid oxygen through borders.
He said restrictions have been imposed in the country to reduce the spread of the disease under the law. The vaccination will continue by the priority groups to achieve 50% nationwide immunization coverage by the end of this year. He urged donors, volunteers and experts to work together in the COVID-19 prevention and control activities. The Union Minister stressed that the Department must take strict measures to increase the capacity of the relevant township health department heads while efforts are being made to provide immediate treatment if the disease is affected and to improve COVID-19 diagnosis.
The patrons of the Advisory Board participated in the discussion and the Union Minister and the Deputy Minister discussed the short-term and long-term priorities to be followed. —MNA