Dimapur flood is man-made, says Nagaland Chief Minister

BOTSA — Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday implored the people of the state to cultivate the habit of cleanliness and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Speaking at the inaugural function of new Primary Health Centre (PHC) building at Botsa and Ayushman Bhavah Mela, the CM said the upsurge in dengue cases, particularly in Dimapur, could be a natural occurrence but lamented that people are not keeping their surroundings and environment clean, which becomes the breeding ground of many diseases.

Maintaining that many health problems, particularly non-communicable diseases (NCD) are attributed to lifestyle and food habits, he stressed on keeping a limit in what one consumes as health issues will have consequences on the economy as well.

He also encourage the people to go for regular health check-up irrespective of being sick or not, saying that early diagnosis and treatment will save life.

On floods that keep haunting Dimapur, he attributed it to land encroachment by the citizens.

There won’t be flood in Dimapur town but the residents encroached on the drains and thus water level goes up, he said, adding that this is the reason why the city is flooded whenever there is heavy rain.

He went on to say that it takes time for the water flow as it its natural route is blocked by encroachers and that diseases have become a menace due to human activities.

‘CMHIS benefiting citizens’

Rio also informed that the people are benefitting from the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS), which was launched last year, with over INR 8 crore being utilised under the programme, while over INR 37 crore have been availed under AB-PMJAY.

Urging the people of the state to avail health benefits, he reiterated that a family can avail up to INR 5 lakh per year under the CMHIS, while government servants can avail up to INR 20 lakh per annum.

Informing that even the World Bank has approached him in connection with the scheme, he said it is a good programme that will prevent the people from spending on medical expense out of their pockets.

Reminding the gathering of the World Heart Day, which falls on September 29, Rio urged the people to take care of the heart, which is a vital organ of the body.

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