Nagaland: Delivery of Covid-19 services in peri-urban, rural areas discussed

Oxygen generation plant at District Hospital Dimapur certified with 96.4% purity

Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 27 (EMN): Amid Covid-19 cases continuing to surge in the state, the minister of Health and Family Welfare, S Pangnyu Phom, had a review meeting with the department’s officials at his office chamber, Nagaland Civil Secretariat, on Thursday to take stock of the situation.

The meeting was attended Principal Secretary of Health department S Amardeep Bhatia,  Principal Director Dr. Neikhrielie Khimiao, and other officials.

‘Representations from various NGOs regarding manpower shortage and grievances were deliberated at length and resolved to be solved on genuine demand and need basis. These are  extraordinary times and we are taking extraordinary measures to help the people of our State,’ the minister tweeted.

Meanwhile an update from the Health minister’s aide informed that roll out plan for delivery of Covid-19 services in peri-urban and rural areas was discussed and decided that Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) facility would be made available in all Sub-Centre - Health and Wellness Centres (SC-HWC), Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs).

It stated that the House also discussed about oxygen-supported bed in all SC-HWC, PHC with doctors and CHCs, and that Community Covid Care Centre (CCC) would be set up for asymptomatic persons without co-morbidities in all villages that don’t have Community Health Officer (CHO)/ GNM nurse/ Medical Officers (MO), while asymptomatic persons with co-morbidities would be treated in villages that have CHO/GNM/MO.

The update stated that pulse oxymeter and thermometer would be made available on loan basis to cases in home isolation and emergency oxygen facility in all Community CCC as per requirement, besides linking such centres to nearest health facility and keeping one dedicated functional ambulance in place.

It went on to inform that referral transport facility for confirmed asymptomatic cases from testing centre to villages either for stay at Community CCC or for home isolation would be enabled. It also decided to have capacity building of all frontline workers and healthcare workers.

The update maintained that the department would monitor cases in Community CCC while community task force would observe those on home isolation in village, and services like tele-consultation and tele-counseling would be made available.

The House also decided to carry out information, education and communication (IEC), behavioral change communication (BCC) as well as surveillance activities in all villages along with community task force.

The Health minister also distributed 102 oxygen concentrators to several private hospitals and some strategic government institutions in Dimapur and Kohima.

Nagaland’s second oxygen plant ‘fit for use’

Meanwhile, the pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen generation plant at District Hospital Dimapur, now Covid hospital, has received clearance from certification laboratory.

District Vector Borne officer, Dr. Kavito told Eastern Mirror that the oxygen plant has been declared ‘fit to use for medical purpose with 96.4% purity’.

The Medical Superintendant of Covid hospital, Dr. Keveduyi Theyo, had told this newspaper on Wednesday that the plant, which has the capacity to produce 200 litres per minute (LPM) oxygen, had started functioning after receiving certification on May 25.

However, the facility is yet to be formally inaugurated.