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Our Correspondent
Wokha, May 22 (EMN): Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland Y Patton on Friday visited Wozhuro range to take stock of Covid-19 preparedness in the area and inspected the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Wozhuro.
Patton, who is also the in-charge of Covid-19 for Wokha district, lauded the civil society for their effort to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in the district.
On his visit, the Wozuro Range Public Organisation (WRPO) submitted a representation on pressing issues, including the need of a police outpost and immediate setting up of police check gate at the locality. It stated that the urgent need was due to illegal movement and peddling of intoxicants since the area is connected to Bokajan in Assam.
The deputy CM assured the people of the area that immediate necessary arrangement would be made at the earliest for the welfare of the people and the district by setting up a check post within the month of May. He also informed that his visit was to take stock of Covid-19 preparedness, but he visited the proposed area for the police outpost on the request of the people, and urged the public to extend their co-operation as well as called the six villages under WRPO to extend support towards the new facility for the welfare of the people.
DGP of Nagaland T John Longkumer accompanied the deputy CM during the inspection of the proposed site for setting up of a police outpost. Longkumer said that the location the people had proposed was 'suitable.' He also suggested naming the police outpost as Wozuro “Chumpo” police station, the morung for the people of Lothas.
Cold storage in all districts
Speaking during the short meeting held at Government High School with all the civil society of Wozhuro range, Patton urged the people to continue to put effort in containing the spread of coronavirus. He also encouraged them to work harder and be self-reliant by making use of their land for farming. "It is the need of the hour where our people should start to produce more," he added.
He informed that the department of Horticulture is ready to set up cold storage in all the districts of Nagaland to assist the farmers in storing perishable goods; which will help them to stack and export them to various locations.
Patton also visited Chukitong range under Wokha district, where he said one outpost would be set up when the strategic location is identified. After that, a short meeting was held at the DC conference hall, which was chaired by taskforce chairman District Commissioner (DC) of Wokha Orenthung Lotha.
Patton, who was accompanied by advisor Mhathung Yanthan and MLA Dr. Chumben Murry, were briefed on the current development in the district, in regard to receiving the returnees from various states of India. The DC highlighted the recourses incorporated on the preparedness for Covid-19 as well as receiving the stranded students and workers to the district.
Meanwhile, Lotha said that till May 21, the district has received 57 returnees, out of which 43 people will be released from institutional quarantine as they came before March 18 and have completed preliminary quarantine.
The district taskforce informed that segregation of people coming from red, orange and green zones has been put into action. The taskforce also informed that a counsellor from the Medical department and church members were monitoring the mental health of returnees while maintaining strict social distancing.
Expressing his concern over the spike in the rate of Covid-19 cases in different states of India after relaxation was made for stranded citizens, Yanthan urged the people to be more alert. He also informed the taskforce to update and keep the four legislatures in the loop on current developments related to Covid-19 in the district.
During the meeting, the Lotha Students’ Union (LSU) submitted a representation addressed to the minister of Health and Family Welfare, S Pangnyu Phom, requesting to provide a Truenat machine for screening suspected Covid-19 patients in the district hospital, the designated Covid-19 hospital for Wokha district. The same was apprised to Patton to address the need of a Truenat machine, stating that the district would be receiving more people from various areas, which are tagged as red zones.