Nagaland gears up for Covid-19 vaccine roll out

Dimapur, Jan. 13 (EMN): In a run-up to Covid-19 vaccine roll out, which is scheduled for implementation across the country from January 16, Dimapur conducted a district-level training for private hospitals on January 12 and for CDPOs, supervisors, Home Guards and AWWs on January 13 in the conference hall of the chief medical officer’s (CMO) office and Chapel Hall of the District Hospital Dimapur respectively.

An update from the CMO’s office stated that WHO consultant, Dr. Sheila Longkumer, presented the Covid-19 vaccination objectives and the implementation process. She also highlighted the criteria for selecting a session site, roles and responsibilities of the vaccination team which included verifying the identities of beneficiaries, data entry, observation, management of the beneficiaries etc.

She also informed the trainees on bio-medical waste management followed by the department in all the health units as well as in any vaccination site, which would be followed in all Covid-19 vaccination sites. She further ensured that only auto disabled (AD) syringes- a one-time use only syringe, would be used for Covid-19 vaccination as used in any other routine immunisation.

It stated that the UNDP project officer, Rajesh K Monsang, also oriented the trainees on the cold-chain management and Co-WIN application. He highlighted the logistics involved to ensure that vaccines used during the vaccination drive are safe and potent.

He also stated that Covid-19 vaccine would be handled by the already existing cold chain points in the district. According to him, there are 10 cold chain points in the district which are monitored in real time to ensure safety and potency of the vaccines. He added that only those beneficiaries registered in the Co-Win portal would be eligible for vaccination.

Dr. Rebecca, DPO UIP/RCH, also highlighted the roles and responsibilities of the vaccination team. She also emphasised on the management and mobilisation of the beneficiaries at the vaccination sites.

In her welcome address, the deputy CMO Dr. Antoly Suu expressed gratitude towards the allied departments for constantly lending their support and co-operation in all the health related activities in the district.

She further urged them to continue with the same support in the upcoming vaccination drive.

The release further stated that all healthcare workers under the CMO establishment have been trained and are ready to carry out the vaccination drive.

Wokha ready with 1533 healthcare workers

Along with the rest of the country, Wokha district is all set to administer the Covid-19 vaccination on January 16.

This was stated by the deputy commissioner of Wokha, Orenthung Lotha, during the meeting of the district task force for Covid-19 vaccine held in his office’s conference hall on January 13. In this regard, he called upon the members to be prepared for its implementation adding that all the magistrates and block task force would be actively involved during the Covid-19 vaccine roll out, an update from the office of the chief medical officer (CMO), Wokha stated.

Also speaking during the meeting, Dr. Khelito Zhimomi, DIO (RCH/UIP), stated that the district has identified 12 session sites for 1533 healthcare workers in the district. While seeking logistic support from the members during the vaccination, she also urged the Social Welfare department to appoint staff as vaccination officers at session sites as well as mobilise the Anganwadi workers for the vaccination. She further informed the members on the deadline for uploading frontline workers data in the Co-win application before January 25 for the next phase.

Superintendent of police, Wokha, Imtitoshi informed that around 522 police personnel would be deployed at session sites and also assured full support from the police department.

During the meeting, Tiyi hall was selected as a session site for UPHC Wokha town beneficiaries. It added that the launching programme would be held at District Hospital Wokha on January 16. The meeting was attended by CMO, deputy CMO, medical staff and officials from line departments.