Naga physician from Khonoma honoured in New Mexico

Our Reporter
Dimapur, July 18 (EMN): A Naga physician Dr. Jonathan Vilasier Iralu from Khonoma village has been honoured by the US state of New Mexico by passing a decree proclaiming July 19 as Dr. Jonathan Iralu Day all throughout New Mexico for his invaluable advocacy and service during this pandemic at New Mexico.

According to the State of New Mexico executive office Santa FE, New Mexico proclamation which was signed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Secretary of State, Maggie Toulouse Oliver on July 9, it stated that due to the dangers presented by Covid-19, the governor declared a public health emergency on 11 March, 2020.

The decree proclaiming states that during this pandemic Dr. Jonathan Iralu, MD, FACP, FISDA, the Indian health service chief clinical consultant for infectious diseases and who has been treating New Mexicans and caring for his community at the Gallup Indian Medical Centrer since 1994, has contributed to the success in the fight against the deadly virus.

It stated that Dr. Iralu is an instructor at Harvard Medical School and also serves as a senior physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital Division of Global Health Equity in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dr. Iralu has been proactive since the outset of the pandemic in taking measures to protect the people of New Mexico while establishing a drive-thru Covid testing operation weeks before the first confirmed Covid-19 case in New Mexico, it said.

The proclamation also stated that Dr. Iralu demonstrated exemplary service and leadership by delivering timely, high-quality Covid-19 patient care to members of New Mexico’s tribes, nations, and Pueblos.

“Dr. Iralu has been an invaluable advocate for his community and has provided a great service in the medical advisory team and the state and therefore the governor has declared that the US state will recognise July 19, 2021, as Dr. Jonathan Iralu Day all throughout New Mexico,” it read.