National Medicos Organization (NMO), Manipur unit has initiated a helpline for public to contact of doctors of various clinical specialties along with a nursing staff, according to a press release.

Releasing a list of doctors numbering around 23 along with their contact numbers, the secretary Dr Th Sachin Deba Singh of NMO Manipur unit in a press release on Tuesday suggested the general public to consult the concerned doctors about their health problems through phone call or SMS or WhatsApp from 9 am to 4 pm daily during lockdown period.

The new move of the NMO Manipur unit is believed to have initiated after non-emergency medical services in most of the hospitals in the State have been suspended due to prevailing situation arising out of lockdown in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result, patients having non-emergency health problems are facing difficult times during this lockdown.

NMO Manipur unit in association with the Seve Bahrati Manipur distributed 250 face masks at MBBS gents and ladies students’ hostels of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Lamphelpal in Imphal on Tuesday.

It may be mentioned that most of the major hospitals including the government hospitals have closed out patient departments after the first COVID-19 case was reported in the State on March 24.

The second case was reported on April 2 and the patient is presently undergoiung treatment at the isolation ward of RIMS hospital.

Fortunately the first COVID-19 patient was discharged from the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal on April 12 after the patient recovers gradually during the treatment.

Meanwhile, 11 close contacts of the Air India pilot who spent three nights from March 17 to 19, 2020 at Imphal after returning from New York have been traced on Tuesday, the Covid-19 common control room in Imphal said in a press release.

“Although asymptomatic, they are under surveillance now and their samples, will be tested at Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Regional Institute Medical Sciences,” the release signed by Additional director and spokesperson Dr Khoirom Sasheekumrar Mangang of Health department said,

“The public is advised not to be panicky,” he further added.

It may be worth mentioning that a total o 1,90,877 persons were screened at the entry points of the State and altogether 276 persons were tested till Tuesday.

A total of 109 persons are at government quarantine centres and 212 others completed their quarantine period, as per official records of the Health department.