Zeliang says Jalukie Covid-19 hospital not ‘well-prepared’

Our Reporter
Dimapur, April 21 (EMN): The leader of Nagaland opposition TR Zeliang on Monday decried the condition of the designated Covid-19 Hospital at Jalukie in Peren district stating it is ‘far from being well-prepared.’

From lack of ventilators to ‘non-existent ICU’ to ‘poor quality’ PPEs, the opposition leader said the reality is ‘nothing close’ to the claims made by the government that the state was well-prepared.

Offering updates on Twitter about his visit to the Covid-19 hospital in Jalukie and the district hospital in Peren, Zeliang stated that the medical workers are ‘our generals who would lead and be at the front of this fight.’  

‘Should they be poorly equipped, what hope can we have to win this battle,’ said Zeliang. The opposition leader said there should not be any distinction between districts as no district is coronavirus-proof.

Accordingly, he said, what appalled him was that the PPE that were made available to the doctors and nurses in the hospital came under the ‘HIV kit’ label.

Likewise, he asked if this was the same PPE made available to the other districts, and if this was the standard PPE to be used in treating Covid-19 patients.

The opposition leader appealed to the government to not give ‘step-motherly’ treatments but take up the fight against Covid-19 without political colours.

As opposition members, he said, ‘we will continue to render our unceasing support and least expect the government to take into consideration the positive suggestions and work together as one.’

The opposition leader was accompanied by the deputy commissioner of Peren, police superintendent and district health officials, Food & Civil Supplies and representatives from civil society organisations of Peren town.