National Health Mission units of Nagaland express solidarity with Nean

Dimapur, June 15 (EMN): The Longleng, Wokha and Phek units of National Health Mission Employees’ Association Nagaland (Nean) have expressed solidarity with the call of the parent body in the state to cease all works in protest against the decision of the state’s Cabinet to regularise the newly-recruited 27 medical officers by overlooking the plight of NHM employees, terming it as discriminatory.

‘Around 82 National Health Mission (NHM) employees in Longleng district have joined the NHM Employees Association of Nagaland (Nean) cease work protest on Sunday and Monday and will continue till positive response is received from the department,’ an update from Longleng NHM workers stated.

It is reported that the cease work protest called by the NHM employees has created crisis to the already existing manpower shortage issue in the healthcare sector.

The Longleng district hospital remaining staff have reportedly taken over the role of screening, reporting and transportation in the absence of NHM employees.

The Nean Wokha unit has also said in a letter to the Chief Medical Officer Wokha that it has resolved to participate in the indefinite cease work protest called by the Nean citing injustice being meted to NHM employees during this pandemic. It added that the protest will continue till the demands are met.

The Nean Phek unit has also expressed its support.

“The Nean Phek Unit in support to the indefinite cease work by NHM Employees’ Association Nagaland (Nean) has begun our indefinite cease work from 14th June 2020. We affirmed to stand and give full support to the Nean till our demands are met,” the press release read.

Don’t go to such extreme, say medical dealers

The Nagaland Medical Dealers’ Association (NMDA) has requested the National Health Mission employees in the state not to go to such an extreme of “resorting to cease work” in view of the current situation.

While appreciating the sacrifices and works done by the NHM employees during this pandemic, the NMDA has requested the NHM workers to resume work in the interest and wellbeing of the public considering the situation-compelled crisis. It also requested the state government to resolve the issue with NHM employees at the earliest ‘as they are frontline workers fighting against this Covid-19 and other diseases’. It went on to urge and call upon all the medical fraternity and general public to come forward, join hands with the government medical officers and help them fight the deadly virus.