COVID-19: NE students’ org request support for Manipur citizens in Delhi

In a joint letter to Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh, the Manipur Students’ Association, Delhi, Naga Students’ Union, Delhi, and the Kuki Students’ Organisation, Delhi & NCR, urged the CM to provide medical assistance to Manipur citizens who are in Delhi & NCR.

In the letter, the students’ bodies highlighted how Delhi & NCR are some of the most severely affected areas in the country by the COVID-19 virus. The areas are also running short on COVID Care beds in hospitals and COVID Care Centres, Remdesivir vaccine, oxygen cylinders, ambulances and other medical provisions.

The letter reads, “We are writing to you on behalf of the students and workers of Manipur in Delhi & NCR to apprise you about the ground realities in Delhi as a result of the second wave of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.”

Due to the non-availability of COVID Care beds and difficulty in accessing hospital beds, citizens of Manipur in Delhi, too, are resorting to home isolation, resulting in severe health problems and unfortunately some even losing their lives in recent months.

Also read: COVID-19: Manipur reports 13 deaths, highest in a day

The students’ bodies from Manipur have been collaborating with other NGOs and concerned citizens and are actively engaging with the COVID-19 affected patients by providing necessary information on the availability of medicine, hospital bed, oxygen, etc. But owing to the limited resources available, they have not been able to respond to the ongoing crisis effectively.

“In order to augment the gap arising due to non-availability of oxygen and hospital beds, we would like to request your esteemed authority to kindly provide the following healthcare essential as an immediate response,” stated the letter by the student bodies.

The list of demands are as follows:

1. 20-30 oxygen cylinders and other essential medical provisions to be made available in Manipur Bhavan for emergency cases.
2. One ambulance/vehicle to be stationed at Bhavan House for emergency response.
3. Formed Emergency COVID-19 Response Team with Resident Commissioner/Deputy Resident Commissioner as Chair along with leaders of various students’ organizations as its member.

The letter sent by the student bodies also urges the government to act as a facilitator in reaching out to the central government, as well as the respective state governments of where Manipur citizens are residing to provide equal assistance.