Port Blair, July 29: Shri. Ajoy Bairagi, State President, Bharatiya Janata Party, Andaman and Nicobar Islands has requested Dr. Harshwardhan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India and Shri. G. Kishen Reddy, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Govt. of India to deploy a central team on Medical Experts in IPC (Infection, Prevention and Control), Public Health, Epidemiologists, COVID-19 trained Medical Specialists and other specialised physicians to combat & contain the spread of COVID-19 in the Islands.

Bairagi in his letter also mentioned that from the last one week the situation of the Island has become worrisome as a huge surge in COVID-19 cases are seen. Further he also mentioned that Dr. Avijit Roy, Nodal Officer, COVID-19, A & N Islands has also got infected with the virus and he was managing the situation well, but he himself is under specialised medical care now.

The letter further informed that many departmental heads and staffs have tested positive in the Islands and many Govt. Offices have been sealed. Further the lack of health infrastructure in the Islands as well as trained & specialised doctors and to lead the fight against the virus has been highlighted. Non-availability of COVID-19 specialists to provide clinical interventions such as Plasma Therapy was also highlighted.

The BJP President also recommended using services of Dr. Arun K Mallik currently residing in the Islands, who has specialisation in Community Medicine from AIIMS, New Delhi and has worked for several United Nation Organisations including the World Health Organisation. Dr. Mallik is ready to provide his services at this time of the pandemic free of cost for the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.