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Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, May 18 (EMN): While instances of stigmatisation against people returning from various parts of India, especially those coming from orange and red zones has been reported with colonies refusing to allow the government authorities to use public complexes as quarantine centres, people of Mokokchung have shown exemplary compassion towards the stranded people by not only welcoming them into their fold but also giving them gift hampers on their return.
Tia Mollier, a member of the Research and Communication Committee of the Mokokchung Covid-19 Task Force, said that gift hampers were being placed on the beds of Mokokchung denizens who had finally reached home after being stuck in various parts of the country for weeks because of the nationwide lockdown triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic.
He added that the gift included a Bible, face mask stitched under Mokokchung Mask Campaign, face shield, a towel and a letter.
“Welcome back to Mokokchung. We have been praying for your safe arrival to our hometown and we thank God that he has graciously brought you back in good health,” the letter read.
“Of course, we all miss our families and want to be with them. But, in the best interest of everyone including our loved ones, the District Task Force Covid-19 Mokokchung has decided that all inter-state returnees will be institutionally quarantined for 14 days followed by another 14 days of home quarantine. It is our sincere prayer that, tomorrow when we look back at the battles we are fighting today, we will be thankful for the decision we made,” it continued.
It wrote that the “gift hamper is just a tiny way to show our love and express our happiness”. The gift box has a Bible gifted by Gideon International; washable face mask stitched by “our own mothers” and volunteers from the Mokokchung Mask Campaign; and face shield made and gifted through the local face-shield project of the District Task Force.
“We have also activated a professional counselling helpline numbers for clinical counselling as well as spiritual counselling, a list of which have been pasted in your room. We hope you make use of their services as well. In addition, we also have a host of prayer warriors and church leaders who are daily praying for the well being of all our students and people stranded outside our state,” read the letter.
It stated that many teams like sanitation, medical, food catering and volunteers have been working tirelessly to look after the welfare at the quarantine centres under the supervision and direction of Mokokchung Deputy Commissioner Mokokchung. In case you face some discomfort or have any grievances, you can right away call the grievances cell helpline numbers, a list of which has been pasted on the walls in your room, it read.
‘We have also activated a radio series in collaboration with the All India Radio Mokokchung where we are broadcasting sensitisation programmes on Covid-19 and interviews with imminent personalities. Don't worry if you're not an avid radio listener, you can simply listen to such programmes right away by browsing the AIR Mokokchung channel on YouTube. We plan to host similar programmes through various digital platforms which will be made known to you during your stay here,’ it said.
“We have also created a website where you can register your details (https://sites.google.com/view/sweethomemkg).We request you visit the website and register your details as per the questionnaire given. This will allow us to use the gift of technology to co-ordinate better among us and perhaps assist us in decision making,” it added.
The letter from District Task Force Covid-19 Mokokchung went on to say that there could inconveniences that’s the best it could manage from the resources available in their hometown.
“We hope you will bear the inconveniences, if any and also bring it to our notice so that we can extend all possible help,” the letter said. “It is our sincere prayer that the few days you spent here will be a time for spiritual renewal and that one day you will look back to this very time and thank God for His love and mercy.”
Mollier told this newspaper that the quarantine centres were also decorated with Bible verses and poster made by CCF Sunday School Children, MTBA under Mokokchung Rainbow.
Apart from gift hampers, he informed that the quarantine centres have been disinfected; renovated its plumbing sector, toilets and washing areas. Two Doctors and six nurses have been dispatched to monitor the health of the inmates in the quarantine centres. Adequate numbers of security personnel have also been deployed to guard the quarantine vicinity.
A total of 64 inter-state returnees, including students, patients and working people reached Mokokchung on Monday late evening. The returnees will undergo 14 days mandatory institutional quarantine at two centres. Those who have been quarantined for three days in Kohima and Dimapur, will also have to undergo institutionally quarantined for 14 days followed by another 14 days of home quarantine as per Mokokchung District Task Force Covid-19 directive.
The quarantine centres are located at Fazl Ali College Campus- Cool Creek Boys Hostel with a capacity of 60 beds and Amoklushi Girls Hostel with a capacity of 62 beds.
Dr. Yanger said that most of the inter-state returnees are from the Northeast states, mainly from Guwahati, Assam and Shillong, Meghalaya. The doctor added that the inmates will undergo strict quarantine as per SOP.
The deputy commissioner of Mokokchung, Limawabang Jamir, has designated “Kitchen” establishment to facilitate and cater to management of the institutional quarantine centres in the district.
The order issued on Monday stated that all amenities of these facilities like utensils, cooking stove, water supply, electricity, etc. shall be made available to the government.
The designated Kitchen establishments are Youth Resource Building, Mokokchung (Kitchen) which will cater to the needs of institutional quarantine centres of Circuit House, Metsuben Tourist Lodge and Multi-Purpose Sports Complex. Impur Centre will cater to institutional quarantine centres of ABAM guest House, Sungratsu Rural Tourist Lodge; while Anthena Girls’ Hostel Fazl Ali College (Kitchen) will cater to institutional quarantine centres of hostels at Fazl Ali College and Mongoya Prayer Centre, Chuchuyimpang.
It further stated that the order shall come into force with immediate effect and will remain until further order.
Meanwhile, a circular issued by Mokokchung district administration on Monday informed that monetary collection will not be levied from the inter-state returnees either in the form of mess fee or subsidised rate per day for expenses. All the expenses shall be borne by the Mokokchung District Task Force Covid-19.