SE Report
GANGTOK: Chief Minister P.S. Golay today paid a surprise visit to Jorethang, Melli, Rangpo and Singtam checkposts to take stock of the situation in these areas.
“I spoke with the in-charge of these areas and briefed them regarding the steps we will be implementing and directed them to continue following the guidelines to ensure the safety of our people and our frontline workers. I also spoke with the person in charge of the West Bengal area and encouraged them to continue with their efforts and work in tandem with our officers,” shared the Chief Minister in his social media page.
“We have been successful in containing COVID-19 and keeping it out of our borders and we should work to maintain this record. I once again urge people to follow social distancing and only leave their homes in case of an emergency or to buy essential items,” said the Chief Minister.
NAMCHI BLOOD DONOR SAVES KALIMPONG PATIENT’S LIFE DURING LOCKDOWN PERIOD
KUNAL RAI
GANGTOK: Timely information sharing and coordination between Samaritans of Sikkim and Kalimpong has helped save the life of a seriously ill patient admitted at Kalimpong government hospital amid lockdown restrictions in both sides of the border to contain spread of coronavirus.
With no inter-State movement of vehicles and people and the donor based in Namchi, the blood packet was handed over to the patient’s family at Melli border and rushed to Kalimpong for timely transfusion.
Kalimpong-based journalist Mukesh Sharma first shared on social media the requirement of AB negative blood for the patient but was yet to get response from prospective donors in Kalimpong.
The radar then turned towards Sikkim as Pradip Anju Khati conveyed the information to Blood Army of Sikkim and the required blood group donor was confirmed being at Namchi.
On Tuesday morning, Voluntary Blood Donors Association of Sikkim (VBDAS) president Kishore Baniya coordinated with the donor Bishnu Chettri and the local blood bank for collection of blood.
Chettri, also the VBDAS treasurer, donated the blood to be transported to Kalimpong via Melli border. Sikkim Backward Classes Commission chairperson Pabitra Bhandari was instrumental in securing the required permission for the transfer of blood despite the lockdown, said the Kalimpong team.
The Namchi team then travelled to Melli and handed over the blood to the Kalimpong team waiting on the West Bengal side the same day.
It is updated that the patient recovered and has been discharged on Wednesday.
The act has once again given hopes to the people that despite being separated by inter-State borders, people in both sides share a common bond and come forth at times of need.
The patient’s family has thanked the donor and VBDAS for the timely action to save a life at the time of Covid-19 crisis.
The nationwide lockdown had affected the movements of blood donors across the country causing shortage in availability of blood for patients, depending on transfusion as a life-saving measure. Blood banks in various hospitals in India have raised concern at the decreasing blood reserves.sikkimexpress/from, india
