A coordination meeting to analyze and review the preventive measures against the COVID-19 virus in Yangon Region was held at the office of the Yangon Region Public Health and Medical Services Department yesterday.
At the meeting, Deputy Director-General Dr Tun Myint of the Public Health and Medical Services Department, Yangon Region, briefed on the measures in connection with information sharing and discussions with the Yangon Region government and relevant departments, formation of rapid response teams in townships of Yangon Region, arrangements of isolation wards at the hospitals in Yangon Region, health information awareness campaigns at hotels, schools, local community areas, economic zones, fresh meat and fish markets, houses and crowded pagodas, Home Surveillance activities being carried out, and field operation of Contact Tracing after scrutiny on the completed Health Declaration Cards of the visitors.
Union Minister Dr Myint Htwe expressed thanks to all the personnel who are making efforts to control and prevent the COVID-19 in line with the Central-level, States/Regions-level and townships-level work directives. Yangon Region is one of the major gateways from outside world to Myanmar. So it is crucial to take measures effectively and efficiently towards success, he added.
He noted that Yangon Region Public Health and Medical Services Department is collaborating with the Yangon Region government, relevant departments and concerned organizations to implement the control and prevention measures. He also stressed the need to share good examples and experiences they gained to other states and regions. They can also see and read them on the MoHS’s Internet page www.mohs.gov. mm, he said.
He also noted that all relevant departments and organizations are working together to control and prevent the COVID-19 virus with man power, necessary finance and medical equipment. Public awareness campaigns are also widely carried out among the people. Apart from constant surveillance, arrangements for isolation wards are made at hospitals. With the participation of the people, rumours should be removed and suspected patients found out, he added.
The union minister stressed the need to monitor the measures according to the checklist as the medical services personnel and their efficiencies are of crucial importance. Public are well informed and health awareness campaigns are being undertaken despite the fact that there are no laboratory-tested positive patients in Myanmar. However, the preventive measures being done at the international airports are more systematically monitored so that any possible suspected patient could be traced there, he noted.
He was satisfied with the fact that the ministry was also coordinating, with relevant ministries, the measures to reduce foreign visitors from the countries where there are many cases of the COVID-19 virus. If they do not complete their information such as names of the hotels they’re going to stay and hotel phone numbers in the health declaration card, they are not allowed to enter into Myanmar. Health declaration card will be revised for foreign visitors to fill in only their necessary information and data, he said.
He noted that the formation of rapid response teams is good and appropriate to fight against infectious disease like COVID-19 virus. Similar teams should be formed in other states and regions as they need to be prepared for any future occurrence like this.
In honour of all the medical services personnel, he said they all are contributing their services to the benefits of the people despite possible infections upon them. As a priority in this financial year, the Waibargi Specialist Hospital and Kandawnadi Hospital will be upgraded up to international standard, he said.
The ministry will revise its future work directives as the experiences and difficulties the medical services personnel are facing in the ground have been raised and discussed at this meeting. The measures being undertaken at the international airports will also be reinforced with medical services personnel from Bago and Ayeyarwady regions. The four-storey ward of the South Okkalapa Women and Children Hospital is now designated as quarantine ward and necessary requirements will be added in this regard, he added.
He urged, in conclusion, all medical services personnel should continue the existing preventive measures without reducing momentum.
Yangon Region Public Health and Medical Services Department personnel then raised their work experiences and difficulties and their necessities.
Director-General Dr Soe Oo of the Public Health and Medical Services Department and Director Dr Tun Tin of the Communicable Diseases Control Division briefed on the matters relating to medical services personnel, finance, supply of medicines and medical equipment, and the WHO’s updated information about COVID-19 virus.
The union minister and officials discussed the matters raised by the departmental heads and staff.
In the afternoon, Union Minister Dr Myint Htwe and officials inspected the preventive measures being carried out at the Yangon International Airport.
The union minister met with the officials concerned and discussed the control and preventive measures being done at the international airport.
MNA
(Translated by Aungthu Ya)
Photo - MNA
Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar