Ozukum pitches for Covid-19 testing and vaccination

Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 20 (EMN): In pursuance to the directive of Nagaland chief minister, minister of PWD (Housing and Mechanical) and in-charge of Kohima district, Tongpang Ozukum, advocated Covid-19 testing and immunisation to break the chain of Covid transmission for the safety of one and all.

He was speaking during a sensitisation programme on Covid-19 testing and vaccination programme organised at DB customary court hall on Tuesday at Chiephobozou, about 30 km from the state capital.

The Kohima district task force (DTF) is reaching out to every nook and corners of Kohima in order to ramp up Covid-19 testing and vaccination as part of the government strategies to be implemented in tackling Covid-19 pandemic.

Ozukum asserted that Nagaland is ‘performing poorly’ in the fight against the pandemic and attributed it to ‘lack of understanding’ amongst the public.

As such, he appealed for more cooperation from the citizens in order that more testing and vaccination drives could be conducted for the safekeeping of everyone in the coming weeks. He also reminded people to report immediately to the authorities if anybody is showing signs of Covid-19 symptoms so that they could be taken care of by the medical personnel.

Ozukum said that lives could be lost at home if people, having Covid symptoms, are reluctant to get tested and treated. The minister reminded how people having positive cases of Covid-19 passed away within 48 hours for late hospitalisation. In this regard, he urged the people with symptoms related to Covid to open up and come forward for testing so that they could be isolated and given timely treatment.

Stating that no medicine has been developed so far for curing the pandemic disease, he said ‘Covid-19 vaccine is the only option at the moment to immune oneself against the dreaded virus.’ He also advised the people to receive the jab, which is administered by the government without hesitancy.

“Receiving a vaccine is no loss,” Ozukum said, adding that taking the shot might prevent untimely death.

Dr. Neikiesalie Nicky Kire, advisor of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, while citing the example of Mongsenyimti, the village of Ozukum in Mokokchung which has achieved 100% vaccination on July 14, asked people in Kohima to follow suit.

He expressed regret that citizens do not want to cooperate with the government though DTF personnel are making all necessary “sacrifices” in reaching out to the public for the safety of everyone. 

Kire also appealed to people in the region to increase their immunisation status and be responsive enough to come forward for testing in the event when suspicious symptoms are developed.

Dr. Vezokholu Theyo, chief medical officer (CMO) of Kohima, underlined the importance of Covid testing vaccination, while highlighting the Covid-19 technicalities,

She pointed out how non-disclosure for fear of social stigmatisation was holding off people with suspicious symptoms to come forward for getting tested, thereby endangering themselves with the possibility of succumbing to diseases.

Gregory Thejawelie, deputy commissioner of Kohima and chairman of DTF, recalled how the authority was compelled to impose lockdown in different phases following the surge in Covid-19 cases due to negligence of Covid appropriate behaviours by the people.

He warned that authority would be left with no option but only to impose lockdown and take stringent measures if positive cases continue to rise in the district. As such, he appealed to adhere to the advice of the government for the well-being of everyone.

Vekhoyi Chakhesang, additional deputy commissioner of Chiephobouzou, requested all the representatives of churches, student bodies, village councils, youth organisations etc. who attended the event, to exercise their responsibilities by sensitising the public in their respective jurisdictions and to comply with the advice issued by DTF.