COVID-19: Ramgoolam’s Open letter to PM Pravind Jugnauth

Ex-PM Dr Navin Ramgoolam has written an open letter to Pravind Jugnauth, making some proposals to contain the coronavirus.

“Mauritius is at war against the Covid-19 pandemic that is claiming the lives of hundreds of Mauritians. This is not an inquest into the mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of preparedness of our healthcare infrastructure. As a former Prime Minister and being a survivor of COVID-19, I have made proposals with the sole aim of trying to find a solution to this crisis; this is above politics,” he said.

The proposals were published on my Facebook page and discussed on a radio channel.

Hereunder the Open Letter in full:

𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝘂𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵

𝗥𝗲: 𝗪𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗥: 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦

Mauritius is at war against the Covid-19 pandemic that is claiming the lives of hundreds of Mauritians. This is not an inquest into the mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic and the lack of preparedness of our healthcare infrastructure. As a former Prime Minister and being a survivor of Covid-19, I have made proposals with the sole aim of trying to find a solution to this crisis; this is above politics. I have made written suggestions on my Facebook page and I have discussed the suggestions on a radio channel. Following your public appeal, I am making written proposals as hereunder:-

𝟭. 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

To remedy the lack of preparedness of the healthcare infrastructure in containing this devastating wave of the coronavirus pandemic, I am making the following suggestions:-

1.1. To convert the Dr. Bruno Cheong hospital into a dedicated Covid hospital.

1.2. To start planning the conversion of the Cote D’or sport complex into a similar facility

1.3. To leverage diplomatic channels as soon as possible to ensure immediate availability of appropriate medications, oxygen and ventilators and to provide latest training to medical staffs.

1.4. To seek expert assistance from AIIMS New Delhi. Appropriate Covid-19 treatment protocols will save lives. Mauritius Telecom to set up relevant tele-medicine digital infrastructures forthwith to expedite expert collaborations.

𝟮. 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀

To set up a new expert transparent and accountable Covid-19 crisis management committee.

Exceptional circumstances require exceptional measures. Between April and June 2021, India’s healthcare system teetered on the brink of collapse as hospitals ran out of oxygen amidst a devastating second wave of Covid-19 infections that claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Indians.

PM Modi did not hesitate to drop the health minister, Harsh Vardhan, who was the face of the Indian government’s efforts to fight Covid-19, along with his deputy. With his decisive actions, PM Modi set up a new expert transparent and accountable Covid-19 crisis management committee and the results speak for themselves.

𝟯. 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻:

The surge of infections is leading to heart wrenching tragedies. Even the young and the vaccinated are dying. Therefore, a full lockdown to contain infections and to break the transmission chains must be actively considered. Every life matters.

𝟰. 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

We are at war against the coronavirus pandemic. Only the one holding the leadership position of head of government can take the actions that are urgent & necessary… I hope that decisive and bold actions will be taken for the sake of our nation.

𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀

𝐷𝑟. 𝑁𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑚𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑚

𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘂𝘀.