By Imna Longchar
Dimapur (Nagaland), June 4 : Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland, S. Pangyu Phom, on Friday disclosed that the State Government has taken up number of steps to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing media persons in the conference hall, Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Kohima,Pangnyu said that knowing fully that oxygen therapy is a critical requirement of COVID management, the department have procured cylinders and at the moment have nearly five times the oxygen cylinders capacity that the state had before the second wave hit.
Stating that with help of the Government of India, the state also have operationalised 3 PSA Oxygen Plants at Kohima, Mokokchung, and Dimapur, Pangnyu said that more Plants at other district Headquarters and the CIHSR are also being set up.
Informing that the department have also tied up more than 1500 oxygen concentrators for health our facilities upto the level of PHC, Pangnyu also updated that the department have set up its supply chain, setting a State and Zonal depots for unhindered and sufficient availability of oxygen.
“There was n acute requirement of oxygen supplied hospital beds in Dimapur. We are grateful to the private hospitals and CIHSR to join hands with us, and we have been able to meet the demand as on date,” said Pangnyu adding that while they came forward , the department also extended full support by ensuring oxygen supply, providing cylinders, concentrators and ventilators to the private hospitals.
He also said that that the department is in the process of setting up 200 bed Acute Care Facility at CIHSR campus on war footing which according him would be a pre-engineered modern structure, which would continue to be used as a medical facility after being done with COVID-19 which would also be an additional “asset” to Dimapur and Nagaland as a whole.
Having concerned on the cases that are reported from some villages in Nagaland, the medical minister informed that the department has issued detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for containing and managing the COVID-19 in rural areas where the State War Room, District Task Forces, the village task forces are fully engaged in managing the pandemic taking help from all.
On vaccination, Pangnyu said that it is the most effective tool against preventing infection and one must increase vaccination amongst the rural population using COVISHIELD for which he said, the department has instructed the DTFs to mobilise through outreach activities and having vaccination sites in villages so that the entire villages are covered and there is least wastage of vaccine available.
Reminding the people that the State is experiencing the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and all are together fighting it with all resources, Pangnyu regard said this time the virus is much more virulent than it was last time.
Mentioning that healthcare and frontline workers are performing their duties working long hours under stress and remaining away from their families for long times, at risk to their personal well-being, the medical minister has also made known that private hospitals have also come forward and has taken the responsibility and fighting shoulder to shoulder with the Government hospitals.
He also acknowledged the support extended by the Churches and the civil society based organizations which according to him, was encouraging and solicit their continued support to ensure that the spread to the rural areas is minimized.
“We have lost many family, friends and colleagues in the fight,” Pangnyu said while extending his deepest condolences to them.
Later, the medical minister added “we owe it to them that we continue our fight. Let us all pray for the departed souls and at the same time, we have to continue fighting this war together and we shall win it together.”
Principal Secretary, H&FW, Nagaland, A.S Bhatia, Principal Director, H&FW, Nagaland, Dr. Neikhrielie Krimiao, and Mission Director, NHM, Dr. Talitemsula, also shared their views in the press conference.
