Secretary Health & Family Welfare Kesonyu Yhome convened a press briefing at the conference hall of Health & Family Welfare Department on 23rd April 2020.
Addressing the media fraternity Yhome said that the covid19 crisis has brought to light gaps in the healthcare delivery systems in the State to meet such an eventuality including infrastructural and human resource constraints adding that the State Government and the Department is making all efforts to address the various challenges and to ensure the safety of the citizens with the strong support from all sections of the society.
In connection with the Covid +Ve patient from Nagaland at Guwahati, he stated that the Department has been in touch with the GMCH officials to enquire about his health status. He further said that as per the report received from the Superintendent, Guwahati Medical College Hospital the patient was initially tested positive for COVID-19 upon admission to GMCH and subsequent second test was negative and the third time he was tested positive again. He added that the fourth test is due in few days and presently the patient is stable and been shifted from the ICU to the isolation ward for further observation.
With regard to the surveillance activities in the containment zone in Dimapur, over 5000persons have been interviewed covering 909 households as of 23rd April 2020 and all samples (382) sent from Dimapur district have tested negative, said Yhome. Also on the status report of the whole State, as of 3:00 PM, 23rd April 2020, a total of 543 samples out of 607 sent from Nagaland have been received and all have tested negative.
Yhome also updated about the items received by the state till date which includes 56,000 PPEs; 2,76,000 triple layer masks; 42,000 N95 masks; 11 ICU ventilators;09 transport ventilators and 50 C-PAP machines; 1007 B type Oxygen cylinders; 119 A Type Nitrous Cylinders and 54 Jumbo Oxygen Cylinders through various consignments.
On the issue raised about the quality of equipments being distributed to the districts Yhome said that Department cannot afford to risk the lives of the healthcare workers who are the ‘Frontline warriors’ in this battle against this disease. He further said that all districts have been informed to come to the Directorate to choose and select the equipments in stock by themselves.
Yhome informed that the State Government is giving full support to the Department in the expeditious completion of the bio safety lab and the Department is pressing hard to enable the State to begin testing samples for COVID-19 in Nagaland within 20 days from today.
On the issue of lockdown he said that the Department appreciates the cooperation of all the citizens of the State adding that the Lockdown measures are very crucial as to ensure the norms of social distancing and thereby help in breaking the chain of transmission. Yhome said that Department has partnered with the Nagaland Medical Council (NMC) for providing OPD services initially at Kohima and Dimapur keeping in mind the hardships being faced by the people without easy access especially to healthcare units, physicians and pharmacies etc.
Yhome also said the Department is also collaborating with the Times Group of India, on a Project called Project Step one to reach out to the citizens who requires medical consultation over the phone and citizens requiring such assistance can call the following State Toll Free HELPLINE 1800 345 0001 and they will be guided to the appropriate consultant from a pool of doctors from across India depending upon the caller’s query. Yhome said that the facility will be available to citizens of the State in a few days for which a separate notice shall be issued.
He also expressed appreciation to the Private healthcare units in the State for playing an important role in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic particularly in the delivery of healthcare services to general patients. He appealed to all to allow the healthcare service personnel to discharge their duties without any obstruction or hindrance either within the premises of clinical establishments or on the road/streets etc.
He further acknowledged the assistance extended by all Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to address the challenges caused in the wake of COVID-19 and hopes that this support system will continue. He also convey his sincere appreciation to the Media, both print and electronic, for exhibiting a high degree of professionalism in reporting and covering the issues on COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus.
( Esuihangle, IA)
