District level training on COVID-19 was held at District Hospital Kiphire conference hall, on 30th April 2020.The training was given to the police personnel, doctors and veterinary doctors.

Dr.E.Motsuthung Patton CMO Kiphire, delivered the welcome address. Resource persons were Dr. Dheni Epidemiologist, Dr.Tiakakla Walling SMO DHK, and Dr. Imnanoktsung DPM, QA.

Dr. Dheni spoke on the epidemiology of COVID-19 including global India update. He said that transmission of COVID-19 can occur through respiratory secretions, adding Nosocomial transmission has been documented in COVID-19.He mentioned that most common symptoms include fever, fatigue, dry cough and breathing difficulty, including upper respiratory tract symptoms like sore throat and rhinorrhea among others. He also spoke about the types of contacts including high risk group and low risk group, surveillance period which is for 28 days, contact tracing and collection of samples etc.

Dr. Tiakala Walling spoke about infections prevention and control standard precaution and additional precaution. She stated that infection prevention and control is a scientific approach with practical solutions designed to prevent harm, caused by infections to patients and health workers. She mentioned that the role of IPC was to reduce transmission of health care associated infections and to enhance the safety of staff patients and visitors. She added that the advisory for COVID-19 is to avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections, while strictly maintaining hand hygiene especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment.

Later the procedure for donning and doffing of PPEs was demonstrated by nurse Limasenla during the training programme.

(Wangshikokla, IA Kiphire)