23 Sep

Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye, in his capacity as Secretary of the National Volunteer Corps, held a virtual meeting with government officials from Nay Pyi Taw Council, regions and states yesterday afternoon via videoconferencing to discuss how they can help volunteers working for prevention and control of COVID-19.

During the meeting, the Union Minister said that the regional government officials need to effectively help the volunteers at quarantine centres. He called on the officials to cooperative with the volunteers in implementation of the current COVID-19 response strategy, and to provide necessary assistance to them. The Union Minister said that the COVID-19 has widely spread in the whole country, especially in Yangon Region and Rakhine State. He added that the government is obtaining advices from relevant experts to control the spread of the disease. The volunteers’ needs for COVID-19 response tasks must be identified in order that government officials can fulfil the needs, said the Union Minister.

He said that the National Volunteer Corps also needs to effectively cooperative with Nay Pyi Taw Council and regional governments.

The Union Minister said that he also organized a virtual meeting with members of Youth Affairs Committee, charity organizations and volunteers in Yangon Region on 21 September. During the virtual meeting with states/regions government officials on 22 September, the Union Minister said that the second wave of COVID-19 is stronger than its first wave, so 30,000 PPEs will be purchased for Yangon Region. The Union Minister also called on regional government officials to motivate the volunteers.

During the meeting, Regional Ministers for Social Affairs, and other participants explained about matters related to quarantine procedures and their cooperation with volunteers and charity organizations. They said that affected townships will compile and submit lists of the needs for COVID-19 response activities. The meeting also focused on efforts for reducing local transmission of COVID-19 and providing proper and effective medical treatments to COVID-19 patients.

MNA (Translated by Maung Maung Swe)