Careless behaviors should not be conducted despite declining of infection rate at present. Necessary preparations should be undertaken for prevention, control and treatment measures without forgetting the lessons and experiences in outbreak of COVID-19, said Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister of the Provisional Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at the seventh coordination meeting of the prevention, control and treatment of COVID-19 at Bayintnaung Villa in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon.
In his address, the Senior General said the third wave outbreak of COVID-19 in Myanmar saw high infection rate in the late June this year. However, the infection of the disease can be controlled to some extent at present thanks to holding the meetings, daily supervision of the central committee and cooperation of officials and people.
The globe saw more than 202 million confirmed patients and more than 4.3 million dead persons till the night of 8 August while Myanmar faced more than 320,000 confirmed patients and over 11,000 dead persons.
Efforts must be made for ensuring a half decline of infection rate in August and further efforts to decrease the infection rate in coming months. More than 3,400 persons were infected on 1 August and over 3,200 persons on 8 August, accounting for some 30 per cent. The infection rate could be reduced in Yangon, Mandalay and Bago regions in a short period. In observing the indicator and figure on infection, people from major cities abide by the health restrictions but those from some towns are still careless for the disease as usual. So, officials need to raise health awareness about the disease for the people.
As of last week, the prices of basic foodstuffs and household medicines have been rising. The Senior General stressed the need to avoid extreme hiking of prices over the goods. Officials need to manage no rising of prices for basic foodstuffs and personal goods because some businesspersons commit storage of goods and manipulation of prices with attempt to raising the goods prices.
Anti-COVID-19 equipment, basic household medicines and goods are allowed to be imported without any restrictions. So, it is necessary to sell these goods at fair prices. Problems of oxygen requirements could be solved to supply oxygen to the people thanks to cooperation of the government, the Tatmadaw, social organizations, well-wishers and companies. As variant COVID-19 viruses emerge one after another, oxygen plants are being established for supply as part of preventive measures. Careless behaviors should not be conducted despite declining of infection rate at present. Necessary preparations should be undertaken for prevention, control and treatment of the disease without forgetting the lessons and experiences based on lives of the people in outbreak of COVID-19.
There are famous traditional medicine practitioners in Kayin, Kachin and Shan states. Some of traditional medicine practitioners are unknown in the states. We need to invite them to discuss how to make the traditional medicines with their suggestions. If we make systematic production, it is sure that the COVID-19 prevention and treatment medicines can be manufactured at home.
In his speech related to further undertakings for the disease, the Senior General said: “I’d like to stress five points over COVID-19. The first point is that COVID-19 would not clearly disappear. So, we need to create the good environs. For example, we need to create the lifestyle and social systems in conformity with the health situation. Such move depends on knowledge and skills of the people as well as living standards and income. The people and the government need to have good economy and income. Only when the government has income, will it carry out the tasks such as establishment of parks and proper drainage facilities. Such tasks such as good environs can be carried out if the government has income. Individually, the people need to create the good environs for their neat and tidy houses. The first point is important to create the good environs not only by the government but by the people. The second point is to improve individual immunity as well as good health and fitness. It means we need to encourage the sports sector for ensuring good immunity of the people. For the third point, it is necessary to ensure food sufficiency. If the people gave food sufficiency, they will have health and fitness through exercises. The exercises will bring good immunity. We need to do so. As Myanmar is based on agriculture and livestock breeding, we have no reason to face deficiency of foods. If we have food sufficiency, it will contribute much to good condition of public health. If we have good environs and facilities for health and fitness, it will benefit the efforts for prevention of the COVID-19. Meanwhile, we need to fully supply prevention and treatment medicines. In the future, we must produce preventive and treatment medicines at home without fail. If we always rely on import of medicines abroad for more than 50 million of population, the country will be poor. We must do it. As a further point, the Ministry of Health cooperates with the medical research unit under the Directorate of Medical Services of the Ministry of Defence in conducting the research on traditional medicines against the COVID-19 under the leadership of the Traditional Medicine Department. We need to expose the new therapy of traditional medicines through modern technologies. There are famous traditional medicine practitioners in Kayin, Kachin and Shan states. Some of traditional medicine practitioners are unknown in the states. We need to invite them to discuss how to make the traditional medicines with their suggestions. If we make systematic production, it is sure that the COVID-19 prevention and treatment medicines can be manufactured at home. So, I’d like to point out the full kinds of production of prevention and treatment medicines including traditional medicines in a long run. The fifth point is to emphasize good income for the people. Those who do not have income can do nothing.
The people must always have income. In the tenures of previous governments, efforts were made to alleviate the poverty rate. It does not have the cent per cent success till today. COVID-19 brings worse result to such projects. So, we need to create the way for the people to have income through agriculture and livestock breeding tasks. So, region and state governments need to lead the projects effectively.”
Next, the Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister of the State and meeting participants reported on further measures for prevention, control and treatment of the disease, needs of supervision over easing restrictions due to declining of infection rate, medical examination and control of infection over foreign returnee citizens, arrivals of vaccines imported from foreign countries and continuous process of vaccination.
They also presented reports on distribution of vaccines to regions and states, aid from international community including ASEAN for combating COVID-19, import of oxygen and production of it at home and control of prices in sale of oxygen.
The fifth point is to emphasize good income for the people. Those who do not have income can do nothing. The people must always have income. In the tenures of previous governments, efforts were made to alleviate the poverty rate. It does not have the cent per cent success till today. COVID-19 brings worse result to such projects. So, we need to create the way for the people to have income through agriculture and livestock breeding tasks.
Further reports comprised training given to those who participate in the treatment measures, distribution of medicines related to COVID-19, supervisions for sales of medicines and medical equipment, production of pharmaceuticals from State-own and private pharmaceutical factories, running of relief flights for citizens from other countries, and operation of inland water, aviation and rail transportations.
They also explained cooperation with traditional medicine practitioners for production of prevention and treatment medicines, appointment of health staff for necessary areas, raising health awareness of the people through TV channels, daily newspapers and media, treatment measures at military hospitals, and assignment of Tatmadaw members at treatment centres.
In his supplementary speech, the Senior General stressed the need to distribute the arrivals of vaccines and inject it into the people in time. Priority must be given to the health staff in vaccination. Efforts must be made for relevant ministries and medical services corps to effectively produce the prevention and treatment vaccines through traditional medicines. Foreign returnee citizens must be systematically conducted medical check-ups and patients provided medical treatment.
In his conclusion speech on vaccination, the Senior General said: “Vaccines must be distributed in a rapid manner. The already-arrived vaccines should be distributed quickly, especially to Mandalay and Yangon. Moreover, the vaccines must be quickly sent to regions and states. If the vaccines arrive at the target areas one day earlier than the schedules, it can take preventive measures one day earlier than the planned. It is related to the medicine. Likewise, products such as foodstuffs and personal goods from respective regions must be distributed quickly and efficiently. For example, an event happened in Shan State last year. State government and respective military commands cooperated with cooperative societies in quick distribution of garlic, cabbage and vegetables with participation of private businesspersons. I mean no products are kept in hand. It must be changed with income. It is the first point. For the second point, it is necessary to use the products. If vaccines arrive in regions and states, it is necessary to inoculate it to the people quickly. If the vaccines arrive at the target areas one day earlier than the schedules, it will prevent the disease one day earlier than the planned. If the people have received vaccine, they will have preventive facilities to some extent. So, I’d like to point out rapid distribution of vaccine and quick use of it for the COVID-19.”
If the vaccines arrive at the target areas one day earlier than the schedules, it will prevent the disease one day earlier than the planned. If the people have received vaccine, they will have preventive facilities to some extent. So, I’d like to point out rapid distribution of vaccine and quick use of it for the COVID-19.
Afterwards, the Senior General said that their organization is the highest to make decisions for immediately doing the tasks. It is necessary to vaccinate the people in regions and states where there remain high rate of vaccination. Relevant regions and states need to manage the rapid vaccination and submit the report to the State Administration Council in time. Region and state authorities must take legal action against those who hike the prices of medicines and oxygen.
The Senior General noted that NUG and PDF terrorists committed disturbance against vaccination and health care services in some regions and states. So, it is necessary to systematically control them for taking security measures of the State. The Senior General stressed the need to effectively control the medicines which can harm the national cause of the State.
High prices of goods may be based on inequality of supply and demand. Hence, officials of regions and states should systematically supervise the equality of supply and demand in products. Creation of jobs for the people to earn income is of great importance. Efforts for food sufficiency and creation of job opportunities for the people to earn income will contribute to other sectors.—MNA
