‘It’s not time for criticism but to support each other’

Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, April 7 (EMN): The minister in-charge of Mokokchung district on Covid-19, Metsubo Jamir, on Tuesday asserted that “this is not the time for fault-finding and criticism but it is time to support each other to contain this pandemic.”

Jamir and advisor to National Highways and Treasuries and Accounts Dr. Longrineken held a meeting with the Task Force of Mokokchung district on Covid-19, comprising district administration, police, medical, civil society and other stakeholders at ADC Planning Hall in Mokokchung on April 7.

The minister said the state government was in control/ preventive stage. He added that the state notifications and orders were issued after thorough consultations and advisory from medical experts and therefore urged the public to follow it for the well-being of the people and to contain the spread of the contagious virus.

Jamir also informed the house that apart from preventing the spread of Covid-19 in Nagaland, the government was giving due importance to food security as well. Admitting that the state has less manpower in the health sector, he instructed the CMO to train volunteers who would assist the medical community, adding that the state plans to arrange fund for training of volunteers.

CMO Mokokchung reported that a total of 571 persons have been put under quarantine, out of which 475 have completed quarantine; the district has 102 oxygen cylinders but needs more if the virus spreads. The CMO also mentioned that the district has received four ventilators, which needs engineers for installation.

Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital (IMDH) MS reported that it has received 105 PPE, which include donated ones. However, he was apprehensive that the PPE in stock could get exhausted in just two days if the virus spreads, and appealed to the minister to provide more since the district has been designated as Covid -19 Zonal Rapid Response Team (RRT).

He also reported that the hospital has 100 litre of sanitiser in its stock and will be requiring an additional 500 litre plus ambulance with barriers between the drivers and the patients for safety measures for paramedics and supporting staff.

While stating that the state does have not many nurses who can monitor and use the ventilators efficiently, the minister volunteered to donate 10 more oxygen cylinders. He was also briefed that there was no shortage of essential commodities in the district and that vehicles carrying essential commodities were being sprayed with disinfectant at every check gate. Additional check gates have also been set up to ensure that outsiders do not enter the district border illegally during the lockdown.

The minister and advisor later visited the district Covid-19 hospital and took stock of the prevailing situation faced by the rapid response team. The minister also donated two solar lamps to the Covid-19 hospital during his visit.