NHAK converted into Covid hospital, again

Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 17 (EMN): In view of the overwhelming Covid-19 cases in the state capital of late, the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) has been converted into a ‘Covid-19 hospital’ once again, and the facility will treat only Covid patients from now on.

The Principal Director of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Neikhrielie Khimiao, told journalists on Monday that the government is giving special emphasis on Dimapur and Kohima districts at the moment, although cases are slowly rising in other districts as well.

He informed that like last year, all private hospitals have been asked to assist in the management of general patients, be it medicine or surgical-related.

He added that an order would be issued asking ‘all the health facilities in an around Kohima to cater to medical requirements of the general public’.

In view of the consequences the conversion of NHAK into a Covid facility could have on less privileged patients, Khimiao said that “the Government will have to come up with clear cut instructions as was done in the previous year” wherein needy people undergoing medical treatment at private hospitals were covered under Ayushman Bharat Yojana, or certain measures like reimbursement of medical expenses.

Beds availability and makeshift hospitals

Replying to queries on the status of Dimapur district in terms of availability of facilities, the official said: ‘As of now, though the number has increased, we have not run out of beds at Dimapur district hospital.’

He added that all health facilities in Dimapur district have been requested to provide medical care services at all Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), or Sub-Centres (SCs).

He maintained that private hospitals are willing to extend its services and ‘the government is extending help in terms of oxygen supply and oxygen concentrators are in the pipeline’. He added that help will be given as soon the consignment procured by the government arrives.

‘For Dimapur, as of now, they are able to manage the situation comfortably, but as and when the need arises, we are totally prepared to go ahead with the creation of makeshift hospitals,’ he stated.

On Covid-related deaths

When asked if all deaths of serious patients with co-morbidities in hospitals are being declared as Covid-related deaths, he replied: “That cannot be true, because if we look at the total scenario, one never say more deaths may be happening than Covid patients, so false report may come out but at this juncture, unless we get a complete overview of the patients dying in the districts, (it) cannot be termed as totally Covid death.”

Shortage of doctors

Further, the official maintained that there were some Primary Health Centres and other centers that don’t have doctors as no replacement has been made after the previous transfers. He added that the department discussed the matter and modalities to address the issue at its meeting held on Saturday.

He went on to inform that the newly recruited doctors have been earmarked to fill up the vacancies at healthcare facilities across the state.

On reports that the department of Health and Family Welfare was facing financial constraint with backlog payments and ill-equipped to meet the needs arising out of the second wave, the principal director said that the state government had released the backlog amount and also had looked into the requirements.

He added that the department would on Monday discuss pertaining to the needs and requirement at the district-levels and would immediately address the issue based on reports received from the districts.

Extension of total lockdown; random testing

Khimiao stated that it is the “State War Room headed by the chief secretary” that will decide whether the total lockdown should be extended.

It may be mentioned that the High Powered Committee (HPC) on Covid-19 headed by the chief minister had imposed total lockdown in the state from May 14 to the 21st in an attempt to contain the spread of the deadly virus.

Maintaining that the magnitude of new cases in the state is concerning, the principal director said Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) is one of the best weapons to control the transmission and added that the state has 8000 RAT, besides 15000 received on the Centre on Sunday.

He said that the department is working out on modalities to distribute RAT kits to all the districts. He added that the department had projected a requirement of 4 lakh kits and the centre government is yet to get back on its proposal.

The principal director also maintained that “vaccination is the best weapon we have with us”, while stressing on the importance of immunisation to the fullest extent possible.

He also pointed that the standard operating procedure pertaining to wearing of nasks, social distancing, hygiene and others should be strictly adhered to.