Bago, March 20

A ceremony to provide financial assistance for prevention, control and treatment of Covid-19 viral disease was held at Tawwinhantha hall of Bago region government office in the town of Bago yesterday afternoon.

First, Bago region Chief Minister U Win Thein said it was a common knowledge that the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic on March 11 at 11;13 pm Myanmar standard time. Myanmar has upgraded the committee on prevention, control and treatment of Covid-19 to a national-level central committee which was led by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Su Kyi, he continued.

 Therefore, it is needed to make systematic preparations for prevention, control and treatment of the viral disease in Bago region, forming committees in accordance with directives from the central committee, he said.

Then, the region chief minister handed over K 50 million, donated by the region government for covid-19 prevention, control and treatment measures, to Dr Aye Nyein, head of Bago region Public Health Department and Dr Yan Naing Maung, head of Bago General Hospital. 

After that, Bago region Planning and Finance minister U Nyunt Shwe reported that in addition to K 50 million donated today, the region government has already set aside an emergency fund of K 1 billion to be used depending on the situation.  

Then, U Aung Win, Managing Director of Petrol Star Co., Ltd donated K 1.8 million worth of 200 protective body suits and K 1 million for Covid-19 prevention, control and treatment, which were received by Chief Minister U Win Thein and officials.

Bago Region Committee on Covid-19 prevention, control and treatment has been formed with 20 members, including the region social affairs minister as chairman.

There are eight suspected cases of Covid-19 in Moe Nyo, Kyauktaga, Htantabin, Thaegone townships in Bago region but no confirmed cases. Arrangements have been made to quarantine suspected cases of Covid-19 at a new building west of a six-storey hospital being built near Kali village in the town of Bago.—Tin Soe( Bago)

Translated by Aung Zaw Lin