DURING a videoconference on prevention and control of COVID-19 in the Rakhine State held yesterday morning, Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr Myint Htwe called for public cooperation in prevention and control of COVID-19 and urged officials to prevent illegal entry to the Rakhine State via illegal border crossing.

The Union Minister pointed out that the spread of COVID-19 in the Rakhine State is too rapid, so effective decisions and responses should be made in real-time to control the outbreak. He said that the ministry has been effectively using digital technology to contact relevant officials in the Rakhine State in order to control the spread of the disease.

The Union Minister also highlighted that it is important to prevent the COVID-19 outbreak in Rakhine spreading to the rest of the country.

He said that quarantines were arranged for all travellers from the Rakhine State. He continued that medical teams and medical supplies are delivering to the Rakhine State via special flights.

Currently, tasks to control the disease have been carried out in real-time in accordance with the direct instructions of the National-Level Central Committee for Prevention, Control and Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019, according to Dr Myint Htwe.

The objective of the videoconference is to discuss real situation in the Rakhine State, to obtain suggestions from health officials, specialists and the Rakhine State Minister for Social Welfare, and to provide necessary assistance, said Dr Myint Htwe.

Discussions on control of COVID-19 in the Rakhine State will be held every morning, according to Dr Myint Htwe.

During the virtual meeting, Rakhine State Minister for Social Welfare Dr Chan Tha discussed various matters including COVID-19 control activities in the state, relevant management issues, and arranging buildings to receive more patients.

Rakhine State Public Health Department Chief Dr Sai Win Zaw Hlaing and leader of a medical team Director (Epidemiology) Dr Nyan Win Myint also explained about health situations in the Rakhine State and made detailed suggestions.

Main subjects discussed in the videoconference are making necessary arrangements to be able to use a nursing and midwifery training school, a traditional medicine hospital, the Sittway University and the Rakhine State parliament building as temporary clinics for COVID-19 patients, installation of GeneXpert instrument system to conduct laboratory tests in Sittway, Kyaukpyu, Thandwe, Mrauk-U and Maungtaw, arranging more quarantine centers, safety of health workers, discrimination and harassment against health workers who provided healthcare services to COVID-19 patients, the plan to deliver two new Genexpert machines to the Kyaukpyu Hospital, the plan to install an oxygen plant in Sittway and Kyaukpyu apiece, and the plan to contact those who travelled from Rakhine State to Yangon from August 10 and arrange quarantine for them.

MNA (Translated by Maung Maung Swe)