ITANAGAR, May 12 - Arunachal Pradesh Health Minister Alo Libang today inaugurated the State�s second COVID-19 testing centre at the Intermediate Reference Laboratory (IRL), State Tuberculosis Centre, Naharlagun, under the Directorate of Health Services.
The tests will be conducted through TrueNat machines installed at the IRL, capable of screening 20 samples per day. Currently, the IRL has three TruNat machines, which were supplied by the Central TB Division, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Minister Libang, after a thorough inspection of the IRL and the State TB Drug Store, got first-hand information about the facility from the Deputy Director of Health Services (TB) and State TB Officer, Dr Moi Nyori, and microbiologist and IRL head, Dr Mope Riba. During a discussion with senior officers of the department, the minister asked them to strengthen the manpower, particularly at the laboratory section, for uninterrupted delivery of services.
While congratulating the department on setting up the COVID-19 testing centre within such a short time, Libang said that it would lessen the burden on the testing centre at the TRIHMS, Naharlagun, during the current crisis in the State. He urged all to work together as a team to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The inaugural programme was attended by Joint Secretary and OSD to the Secretary (Health and Family Welfare), Mamta Riba, Joint DHS (P&D) and in-charge Director of Health Services, Dr Emi Rumi, and State Surveillance Officer, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, Dr Lobsang Jampa, and others.
