Shillong, July 1: A two-day Master Training of Trainers for Meghalaya organized by the Health and Family Welfare Department for officials of all government departments on the subject, “Behaviour Change for COVID-19” was inaugurated by Meghalaya Chief Secretary, M S Rao at Yojana Bhavan Auditorium, Main Secretariat building, Shillong on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary said that the state has done very well in containing the spread of COVID-19, adding that “as of today, Meghalaya is one of the states in the country having the least number of active cases.”

The Chief Secretary acknowledged the role played by various departments, headmen and the community for their cooperation and support to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Emphasizing the need to get rid of the fear and stigmatization of people affected by the virus, the Chief Secretary appealed to the people to have empathy with the affected people and urged the people to be cautious while sharing any information in social media by crosschecking facts to avoid any misinformation which can create panic in the mind of the poeple.

He also hoped that the master trainers will be able to reach out to all people and particularly to persons above 60 years of age and persons with co morbidities, drivers and handymen who are doing yeomen service carrying essential commodities to the state and traffic police.

The Chief Secretary called upon the citizens of the state to fight against the virus by strictly following health protocols and personal hygiene like hand washing, hand sanitization, mask wearing, maintaining physical distance, avoid crowding and not to spit in public places.

Commissioner and Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Sampath Kumar, Joint Secretary of Health and Family Welfare cum Mission Director, NHM Ram Kumar, DHS (MI), Dr. A. War, DHS (MCH&FW), Dr. N. Wanswett, Dr. M. Marbañiang, SSO, SDSP and officers from various government departments attended the programme.

The topics for the technical sessions include an introduction to COVID-19, current status of the situation at global and national levels, how to cope with life in COVID times, some common myths, taking care at home and frequently asked questions (FAQs), taking care in the workplace, behavioral change model to live with Covid and introduction to the training mobile application.

The resource persons for the day include Dr. N. Roy, SMO, WHO, Dr. M. Marbañiang, SSO, IDSP, Dr. S. Kharkongor, Training Coordinator NHM, officials from NIC, M. Nongpiur and P. Hadem.