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Think of a better solution than Lockdown or curfew

by Rinku Khumukcham
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For a state like Manipur which is not so sound economically, to test all people of the state is impossible even though that is the best solution. Fear, anxiety, apprehension is a human phenomenon. Every people in the state too are no different as they are a human being.
At this time of the COVID crisis, everyone is showing its serious concern. Those in the health care sectors, law enforcers, district administers, and particularly club members are playing their role to contain the virus with every means they could. But the invisible enemy keeps invading us. We the people should not have a preconception mind of speculating the spread of the virus at the community level, as the negligence of those front line warriors who are responsible for protecting the people. This is stated because all people are hero from their own perspective, everything they have been trying is to save the people. But what went wrong? Why is it that despite the many efforts the virus now has spread at the community level? How come people tested with the dreaded virus were stigmatized when the virus was contracted with them for no immoral behaviors or activities?
Whether the state health department accepted or not, we are in the fourth stage of the pandemic. From a clique of persons who return from outside the state, the virus now had reached out to health workers and to common people who had no travel history or to those who do not have the idea of how the virus has infected them and from where. The fact is that there is community transmission and that the matter should be deal by finding a perfect policy that will be adapted with the society of Manipur without delaying by accepting the fact that “Community transmission” has begun. Before things get worst, it is time that the government act but not to the will and desires of those in the top post. Forget about the Chief Minister and his cabinet Ministers, those bureaucrats whose responsibility and duty is to advise the ministry are not competent enough to take decisions of their own in respect of this pandemic. The only solution for this crisis period is proper planning which should be framed in consultation with various experts in the field. Bureaucrats, who come from a medical background or sociological background should not underestimate those experts in the profession who are presently engaging in their respective field as the wisdom of those dedicating their whole energy obviously have more innovative ideas which is practical and applicable to the society.
Same old policy like the imposition of lockdown, curfew etc. cannot be utilized as usual as the nature of spread is different today. When it comes to the local level, and started transmission at the community level, definitely there is an urgent need for formulation of a program as done earlier during HIV and AIDS pandemic. By setting up the Manipur State AIDS Control Society and implementation of certain work programme under the strict policy have reduced and put under control the spread of HIV and AIDS. Now, the state needs to think of a plan which may be not similar to the way that was taken up for controlling the spread of HIV and AIDS. Because SAR-CoV-2 is different, its character is still studying and so far no medicine to cure the COVID-19 has been so far invented even though the world is trying. But saying so, we have to live and not as prisoners. In the name of containing the virus, people can’t be put as prisoners at home all the time. And nobody knows how long the virus will be with us. A separate cell like that of MACS perhaps may bring some solution. And the guidelines need to be properly framed by collecting all suggestions and recommendations from experts of all stakeholders.
On the other hand, the idea of mass testing is not possible we know that, but the government should not make any mistake to utilize all it has to make sure that people are tested at the maximum level. The Chief Minister, Health Minister, and other authorities of the department have been saying that Manipur at present had the capacity of testing over 2000 samples per day. Had these Ministers and authority ever inspected that even though the state had now machines to test the virus to over 2000 sample, does all the required kits and reagents for testing of the virus have been made available to them? Sample collection these days have been reportedly reduced but complaints about not being tested by collecting sample are heard every single day. There is a loophole, even as all those working in the sector spend all their energy to make sure that people are safe.
The best machinegun without bullets during war times seems to have no values and a similar thing is sense in the VRDLs of both RIMS and JNIMS. These should be checked. And why these VRDLs are getting only 600/700 samples per day when they have the capacity to test over 2000 samples. Why could not the health authority collect more samples so that more people get tested?
This COVID-19 pandemic is no joke. It has a tendency to uproot the whole society. And without proper policy, it is affecting all. This lockdown which is on should not be wasted. The need of the hour is to frame policy with ideas from all experts.

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