COVID Commander, War Room & COVID Heroes: Assam Fights Coronavirus, writes Sudarshan Gupta

April 12: The coronavirus pandemic is affecting tens of thousands of people in profound ways, including loss of work, wages & sufficient healthcare. The outbreak has had a significant impact on the most vulnerable populations, including the elderly and children.Though the situation worldwide is quite grim, yet in comparison to the developed countries, India is doing quite well in containing the outbreak of the deadly virus. Speaking about Assam, the state seems to be well prepared in its fight against coronavirus. Thanks to the COVID Commander, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma whose war room strategy has fortified the state guarded by highly motivated soldiers in white apron.

As Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma appears now to be less a politician and more a guardian devoted to protect the inhabitants of the state at this hour of crisis. Well, this is not a rhetoric or an eulogy but a factual representation of scenario which could be witnessed by all and sundry. While politicians prefer to be sweet towards media, Dr. Himanta during the lockdown phase even used sour words towards newsmen. Whenever, reporters gather to take his byte, he reminds them in strict words to follow ‘social distancing’. Though it may appear less palatable, yet he goes on to call a spade as a spade.

So what exactly happens at the ‘War Room’ in Guwahati where Sharma could be seen very often amidst his trusted generals? In one of his tweets, Dr. Biswa Sarma termed the office of the National Health Mission in Guwahati to be his ‘War Room.’ What does he do there? He replies, “Every night, without a fail, ever since scare of #COVID19outbreak started to haunt us, we’ve been meeting at NHM office. We strategize, plan, monitor & review. I’m ably supported by MoS @Pijush_hazarika, Pr HS @samirsinha69 & @nhm_assam team.”

Our War Room & My Covid Heroes 🤵🤵

Every night, without a fail, ever since scare of #COVID19outbreak started to haunt us, we've been meeting at NHM office. We strategize, plan, monitor & review. I'm ably supported by MoS @Pijush_hazarika, Pr HS @samirsinha69 & @nhm_assam team. pic.twitter.com/LAWcBwTIJk

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 11, 2020

“I may by selfish, no we are realy selfish for ourselve, for the sake of the pepople of Assam to request you to take care urself and your team, as no third person is like you to lead the team, visiting 27 times to 13 hospital in these last 18 days. Praying God to tk care u all,” wrote a twitter user. Yes, this remains to be a fact. Dr. Navneet Anand, a political analyst tweeted, “The #COVID footprint of Assam Health Minister Dr @himantabiswa is incredible – 27 visits to 13 hospitals over 18 days. Combined with numerous meetings to assess preparedness & motivate teams – and one marvels at the extraordinary commitment of this #CoronaWarrior.” The list does not end here, rather he goes on the round of the hospitals and takes stock of every preparation.

He also kept an eye on those stuck in the Assam-Bengal border. On 9 April, he tweeted, “Some Assam citizens were stuck on Bengal border in Srirampur as they were in transit the day lockdown was imposed. They completed their 14-day quarantine. We’re initiating process to send them back homes after check up. I visited & enquired about health with my colleagues.”

Nothing seems to evade the eyes of the COVID Commander. On 9 April, he visited quarantine site Sarusajai Sports Complex along with MoS Pijush Hazarika to check sanitization, food quality and hygiene. He also met doctors to enquire about 166 people quarantined here. Checking the quality of food given to those quarantined speaks volume of the care he is providing to them. His planning for converting the Medical Colleges and hospitals for COVID-19 patients and subsequent signing of MOUs with private hospitals where treatment facility was made available for the other patients is worth mentioning. He has also announced that very soon the state would go for 1 lakh rapid test. The more we test, the more safe position out state would be.

Does the COVID Commander ever feel demoralised or being let down? When people work hard, they expect the fruits of their hard work. Till 30 March, 2020, Assam had not a single COVID-19 positive patient. But then gradually unfolded the Nizamuddin Markaz episode. One by one, the number of coronavirus patients went up to 29. While speaking to a television channel, Dr. Biswa Sarma said, “Had the Nizamuddin Markaz episode not occured, then Assam would have only 1 coronavirus patient till now.” This is perhaps the only issue which made him demoralised.

Inhabitants of Assam who got stuck outside the country were also taken care by him. The state government has offered monetary help to them. Further, he has launched a helpline for the patients of cancer, heart surgery & kidney transplant, stuck outside Assam due to lockdown. Government of Assam shall provide financial assistance to such patients after due verification. From the drivers of 108 to the 104 staff, paramedical staff, nurses and ofcourse doctors- he had welfare plans for all.

If everything goes as per the war module prepared the COVID Commander in his War Room, then the COVID Heroes would definitely put up a big fight and restrict the COVID-19 cases within the manageable limits of his dedicated medical team in white apron. Let us all do our part in this battle by staying inside our homes and further strengthen the hands of our COVID Commander.

**The writer is Head, Department of History, Radhamadhab College, Silchar (Assam).