Shillong, May 4:Â Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Minister, A. L. Hek on Monday launched a locally made alcohol based hand sanitizer at Directorate of Health Services (Research), Pasteur Institute, Lawmali.
Secretary (Health and Family Welfare Department), M. N. Nampui, Directorate of Health Services (R) and Medical Superintendent, Ganesh Das MCH Hospital, Dr. N. Wanswet, Director of Health Services (MI), Dr. A. Warr and health officials were present.
In his brief address, Hek termed the production of the alcohol based hand sanitizer by Pasteur Institute an important initiative by the Health Department towards safeguarding the citizens of the state. “It is pertinent to state that necessity is the mother of inventions,†he said adding that Pasteur Institute will be the future and game changer for the State as far as health scenario is concerned.
Hek lauded Dr Wanswet and the team for developing the hand sanitizer at this time when the people of the state need the product.
It may be mentioned with an aim to supply safe and effective hand sanitizers for the citizens and due to the high demand for hand sanitizers in the state, the Directorate of Health Services (Research) has introduced a small scale manufacturing unit at Pasteur Institute, Shillong to cater to the needs of the healthcare workers and the general public. The manufacturing follows the WHO recommended formulation and the hand sanitizers manufactured by the unit is alcohol based hand sanitizer and the product is kept in quarantine in a clean, spacious, air conditioned room for 72 hours in order to allow time for any spores present in the alcohol to be eliminated by hydrogen peroxide.
During the launching programme, the Health Minister distributed hand sanitizers to media persons and also inspected an annexe building of the Ganesh Das MCH Hospital which has been turned into an Isolation ward.
