Dimapur, May 24 (EMN): NPF legislator from 13 Pughoboto assembly constituency, Y Vikheho Swu has appealed to the public not to panic and discriminate or stigmatise the returnees in any manner, saying that they would be sent home only after completing 14-day institutional quarantine.
Swu stated this in a joint meetings with the village leaders and medical officials at Ighanumi and Ghathashi during his visit on May 21 and the 22nd. He visited Pughoboto sub-division to inspect quarantine centres set up in the villages for those returnees from different cities, an update from NPF 13 Pughoboto AC stated on Sunday. The MLA was accompanied by ADC Pughoboto and SDO (C) Pughoboto and in-charge of Ghathashi area.
The report stated that Pughoboto CHC has set up 20-bed quarantine centre at the newly constructed outdoor stadium at old Pughoboto (Natsumi), while Ghathashi PHC has set up 12-bed quarantine centre at the Cultural Hub, Ghathashi and Ighanumi PHC has set up 4-bed quarantine centre at the village council hall.
Before visiting the designated quarantine centres, the MLA along with the administrative officers visited both the PHCs at Ghathashi and Ighanumi and interacted with the medical officers and staff. He also appreciated the joint efforts made by the medical staff to make medicine available to the villagers despite limited resources.
The legislator also pointed out on the confusion due to frequent changes in the SOPs for which the administration and medical officers in the sub-division were not able to supply correction information pertaining to the number of returnees.
While urging humane approach towards the returnees, Swu appealed to the public not to panic and discriminate or even attempt to stigmatise them in any manner. He stated that they were thermal screened at the time of boarding the train or bus and would further undergo 14-day quarantine at government designated centres at Dimapur and Kohima. He added that those returnees should undergo another 14-day quarantine at the community centre after reaching the sub-division.
He, therefore, urged the village leaders not to make assumptions and create unnecessary confusion but instead strictly follow the safety guidelines issued by the medical department and government such as maintaining social distance, wearing mask whenever necessary, washing hands frequently, sanitising public places and individual houses from time to time.
He also urged the village councils to ban all unnecessary travel even after the lockdown period and also keep travel record of those travellers.
“Until vaccination for novel coronavirus is found, we are going to live with the disease. Therefore, our lifestyle will have to be change so that we do not get infected or we do not infect others as well,’ Swu stated.
With minimal fund received from the government till date, he told the public that ADC’s office in Pughoboto is functioning mainly out of the money contributed from the well-wishers. The MLA and the officer reminded the village chairmen and leaders that grant-in-aid under Rural Department was given specifically with strict instructions for storage of rice, procurement of medicines for villages etc. and not for household distributed as was done in the past.
The MLA also lamented on the non posting of medical doctor at Kilomi PHC. He also observed that PHC at Ighanumi was without an ambulance.
The report stated that the medical officer has been managing to travel within and outside the sub-division for official works all on her own expenses since her posting two years ago.
The MLA has further assured to take up the matter on priority to the appropriate authority for immediate redressal. The MLA has further appreciated many individuals, organisations and village councils for their contributions to set up quarantine centres at Pughoboto, Ghathashi and Ighanumi.
