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Dimapur, April 1 (EMN): The medical and health establishments of Mon district may be lagging behind in terms of infrastructure but the healthcare workers in the district are ready to for any eventuality amid the threat of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Healthcare workers in Mon have not been trained for this kind of situation (Covid-19 outbreak), and for now, it is difficult to say about their preparedness but they are prepared in the best possible way they can, Dr. Limatula, the district vector borne officer/district surveillance officer (DVBO/DSO) for Mon, told Eastern Mirror on Wednesday.
She informed that Mon has received the first consignment of medical equipment from the government of Nagaland but the second consignment is yet reach the district. As of now, it has 90 personal protective equipment (PPE), has sufficient three-layer mask but does not have N95 masks.
The health official informed that the district does not have an intensive care unit (ICU) facility but is setting up an isolation ward with 12 beds for patients at the district hospital. There are plans to expand it, she added.
Limatula said if the situation turns worse, there could be shortage of manpower. As of now, the district has one anaesthesiologist, around 26 doctors and 124 nurses he added.
Facilities
Mon district has two functional quarantine facilities, one in Mon town and the other at Aboi, she said adding that two more quarantine facilities are being set up at Tobu and Naginimora.
On implementation of nationwide lockdown in the district, she said the police department is trying its best to restrict the movement of people.
There is no shortage of essential commodities as of now in the district, Limatula said.
She also updated that at the moment, nine people with travel history have been admitted to quarantine centres -- six people at Aboi and three in Mon town. Moreover, they could not travel to their respective village because of the lockdown.
Dr. Chenjei, a health official in Mon, also informed that the healthcare workers in the district have not undergone training for this kind of situation. Therefore, he said, it is difficult to say how prepared they are but expressed confidence that they will give their best.
Further, he said most of the people in the district are self-quarantining at home.
Those working in medical department are said to be regularly calling up the people for updates about their health.