Obey govt. directives on coronavirus, NPF medical cell tells public

“Stay Home!  Stay Safe! Safe Nagaland”

Dimapur, March 25 (EMN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) medical cell on Wednesday called for “civil obedience” and urged the citizens of Nagaland to take all necessary precautions with the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic becoming a matter of grave concern for the state, especially after positive cases being detected in the neighbouring states.

In a press release issued by MLA Dr. Chumben Murry, the NPF medical cell has urged the people of Nagaland to heed the government’s directives and “valuable precautionary dos and don’ts”. It also directed the party workers to exhibit exemplary obedience.

“It is a difficult time for all of us and let us not aggravate things by disobeying orders,” the statement read.

Citing the concerns shared by the Health Minister of Kerala, despite the state’s good healthcare system, the NPF medical cell stated that Nagaland will be in trouble if “Covid-19 trickles into our state”.

“These situations all the more, calls for a conscious and informed will to fight for prevention of the pandemic coming to Nagaland. All citizens are therefore urged to be well informed with correct information given out by the Department of Health and family welfare and not become unduly panicked by social media posts,” the statement read.

“The call for shutdown has become a dire need but shutdown alone cannot protect us. In addition all elaborated safety precautions need to be religiously followed. STAY HOME!  STAY SAFE! SAFE NAGALAND & GOD BLESS ALL OF US,” it added.

Zeliang makes several proposals

The leader of opposition, TR Zeliang, on Wednesday lauded the state government for its efforts in curbing the spread of Covid-19. However, he stated that the government needs to adopt more stringent measures to ensure the safety of the citizens.

Zeliang made few proposals to the state government in connection with the Covid-19 through a press release on Wednesday.

• PDA government should apprise the Centre of the need to set up a testing centre for coronavirus in Nagaland at the earliest time possible.
• Ensure that people of Northeast staying in Indian metropolitan cities are not subjected to racial attacks, which many have complained of, after the Covid-19 outbreak, and that the state government issue a notification directing authorities of Nagaland House located across the country to accommodate stranded Nagas and those in distress due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Seal all inter-state and international entry points of connectivity across the state, including those walking on foot.
• Proper protection equipment of high standards to doctors, nurses and those working in the front line.
• Look into alleged shortage of protective equipment for doctors and nurses; and shortage of medical supplies like testing kits, thermal scanners, masks, gloves, hand sanitisers etc. in government hospitals and health centres; ensure that all district hospitals have ICU with ventilators.
• Government should make funds available for utilisation. There is no budget provision for emergency procurement of equipment but impending situation demands that the state government utilises what is at hand. For this to happen, the only way at this point of time is through percentage-cut from available resources which was passed as Vote on Account during the last Budget Session to meet the minimum requirement worked out by various departments.
• The department of Food and Civil Supply should work out a mechanism for distribution of essential commodities and allay fears of food shortage, particularly in rural areas.
• The state government should not have announced private properties like Niathu Resort and Cricket Stadium in Dimapur for accommodation of coronavirus-suspected persons (quarantine).
• Public should stop circulating unconfirmed reports related to Covid-19 on social media, which has become another disease and confused the people.