Central team members satisfied with arrangements in Darj market... GTA starts mobile medical units

REZA PRADHAN, SNS, DARJEELING, 28 APRIL 2020: The Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) making an assesment of the Covid-19 and lockdown situation in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri, today expressed satisfaction at the 'good practices" being followed in the vegetable market in Darjeeling town.

The team led by Vineet Joshi visited the market at Chowk Bazar, two shopping malls and the district hospital where they interacted with the people. "A good practice is being followed in the vegetable market here, with sanitisation being done, and people also being given hand sanitisers during purchase. There were less people there, but it could also be due to the rain today." said Mr Joshi. The team, however, raised questions on how shopping malls were selling vegetables and grocery. They said only standalone shops should open and that they would discuss this with the administration. Mr Joshi said, "We met the superintendent and he told us there was no suspected cases coming in there. He also said that random tests were being done for anyone coming there with symptoms like fever."

GTA mobile medical units: Meanwhile, keeping in mind the regular illnesses people may suffer from during the lockdown, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration is all set to start Mobile medical units, which will cater to mostly those people living in rural areas of the region.

Christened the'Sanjeevani Swasthya Sewa (SSS), this initiative will also identify people with Covid- 19 symptoms and direct suspected cases to designated health facilities. Speaking after a meeting of the GTA with health officials of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, GTA chairman Anit Thapa said. "Our fight against the coronavirus is going on,but apart from that there are regular health problems too. With the onset of the rainy season, ailments like fever, diarrhoea will be common and we have to prepare for that too." "There is already a decrease of about 70 percent patients visiting hospitals. There is enough stock of medicines, but people are not taking them also. We have decided that a doctors team will visit rural areas, especially tea gardens, and conduct checkups along with sugar tests, among others " said Thapa.