Manipur Health Minister Langpoklakpam Jayantakumar Singh on Monday approached the Union Minister of External Affairs (MEA) in connection with COVID-19 related aids from Japan through the Japanese Embassy in New Delhi for combating the pandemic threat in Manipur.
In a letter addressed to the MEA, Jayantakumar sought the intervention of the ministry so that these aids that include Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs); Ventilators; Favipiravirt (Avigan) tablets; including financial help for construction of a dedicated COVID-19 Hospital; expert doctors and nurses reach Manipur at the earliest. The minister’s action is a follow-up of Apunba Imagi Maching (AIMS), Manipur’s effort on approaching the Japanese Government through the Japanese Embassy in New Delhi.
Dr Atom Sunil Singh, director, AIMS had earlier requested the Japanese authorities when the first Coronavirus case in Northeast India was detected in March 2020. Within 15 minutes of the request, the Japanese authorities replied favourably with the condition that the approach is to be made through the state government and the Central Government.
The aids which were requested by the NGO include 1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves, goggles, gowns, hand sanitizer, soap, water, etc.; 2. Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) such as ventilators, medicines and equipment; 3. PCR or latest diagnose; 4. Possible medicine, like “Favipiravir” (Avigan) developed by Toyama Chemical of Japan; 5. Construction of special hospital for COVID-19 treatment; 6. Construction of separate quarantine and isolation centres etc.
It is also includes financial support for supplying water regularly for daily use and drinking; essential commodities such as rice, dal, edible oil, etc.; and also requested for expert nurses and doctors from Japan, said a release issued by AIMS.
