Covid-19: Opposition party says Nagaland has no testing centre, insufficient protective kits for health workers

Dimapur, March 27 (EMN): The opposition party, Naga People’s Front (NPF), has claimed that healthcare infrastructure in Nagaland is ill-equipped to fight the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic which has gripped the world.

In a press communiqué issued on Friday, the NPF lauded the state government for its effort to contain the spread of Covid-19 and ‘sensitising the people on the virus to protect the precious lives of the citizens’. “The party took an extra mile in assuring its support to the PDA Government in tackling Covid-19 as it is a common concern for all of us,” it read.

The party, however, said it is not convinced by Chief Secretary Temjen Toy’s claim that Nagaland government is prepared for any eventuality. It went on to state that it conducted an extensive survey across the state through its divisional presidents “to find out the details of preparedness in each district headquarters and sub-divisional headquarters”.

The survey was reportedly conducted in Tuensang, Noklak, Dimapur, Phek, Mon, Tseminyu, Peren, Wokha, Longleng, and Mokokchung.

Here are the findings by NPF sources:

Covid-19 testing centre
No Covid-19 testing centre in the state.

Testing kits, thermal scanners, face mask, gloves, hand sanitiser
Tuensang: No testing kits, one thermal scanner, less face mask, gloves and hand sanitiser
Noklak: No testing kits, doctors manage other items surveyed
Dimapur: None available
Phek: None available
Mon: Surveyed items available only for hospital staff
Tseminyu: None available
Peren: None available
Wokha: One thermal scanner, shortage of other items
Longleng: None available
Mokokchung: Not sufficient

Protective equipment (kits) for doctors, nurses, frontline workers
Tuensang: 14 items available, require more
Noklak: Nothing received
Dimapur: Nothing received
Phek: Nothing received
Mon: 19 items available, require more
Tseminyu: Nothing received
Peren: No proper equipment supplied
Wokha: Nothing received
Longleng: Nothing received
Mokokchung: Not sufficient

ICU facility in district hospitals
Tuensang: No ICU facility
Noklak: No ICU facility
Dimapur: No ICU facility
Phek: No ICU facility
Mon: No ICU facility
Tseminyu: No ICU facility
Peren: No ICU facility
Wokha: No ICU facility
Longleng: No ICU facility
Mokokchung: No ICU facility

24/7 control rooms in district hospitals
Tuensang: Yes
Noklak: Yes
Dimapur: Yes
Phek: No
Mon: Yes
Tseminyu: No
Peren: No
Wokha: Yes
Longleng: No
Mokokchung: Yes

Citing the findings of its state-wide survey, the NPF has urged the state government to act quickly and make sure that all the necessary equipment are made available in all the district headquarters and sub-divisions, so that the people, including doctors and nurses, are not affected by lack of equipment.