State Health & Family Welfare Minister S.Pangnyu Phom visited Wokha COVID-19 District Hospital to oversee the preparedness taken by the District Task Force (DTF) and Health department to contain COVID-19 Pandemic crisis in the district. Mention may be made that Dr. Motsuo Memorial District Hospital is presently designated as COVID-19 district hospital.
The Minister, while interacting with the DTF and members of the Lotha Hoho, expressed satisfaction the action plans taken up by the DTF and health department after inspecting health care facilities of the designated district hospital. He also lauded the efforts put in by all the front-line workers who were rendering their selfless services to contain the disease in the district.
The Minister stated that Wokha District is a vulnerable and high-risk zone area as the district shares long stretch of border with Assam State and there may be many challenges while combating to contain the diseases.He assured the DTF that in his own capacity he will look forward to assist the district in all possible ways and added that, any grievances faced by the district be highlighted to the government so that immediate action will be initiated. Pangnyu also appealed to the District Administration, health department, Police and civil societies to be more united and co-operative to face any eventuality in the fight against this pandemic. He also lauded the initiative undertaken by the Dy. Chief Minister, Home & R&B, Y. Patton who has visited all the PHCs and Sub- Centres under Wokha district.
Beside other logistics requirements of the district, Chief Medical Officer, Wokha Dr. C.W. Tungoe, submitted a proposal for immediate posting of Medical officer at the following PHCs centres, namely Yimpang, Yanmhon, Moilan, Aree and Ralan during the meeting.
Lotha Hoho led by its Chairman who had inspected the District hospital on 20th April 2020, found out that the COVID-19 district hospital does not have required doctors and medical equipment, for which the Lotha Hoho has also submitted memorandum for immediate replacement of doctors attached to Dimapur and the one who is on study leave. The Hoho also stated that the doctors are not posted as per the sanctioned strength for the district for which the Hoho appealed for redressal at the earliest. The Hoho also requested to provide basics medical equipment’s as per the requirement of the district such as X- Ray machine, Ventilators, cardiac monitors, Thermal scanners and standard PPE.
Deputy Commissioner & Chairman DTF, Orenthung Lotha while welcoming the Health Minister and his entourage for visiting the district and adding moral poster to the DTF and all the front line workers of the district in his chairman remark reminded the Minister that, Wokha district is bordering with Assam State which covers almost 80 KMs has a porous border which puts the district at the vulnerability and high risk zone, where by to address the problem the DC has urged the Minister to immediately post Medical Officer at Yimpang, Yanmhon, Moilan, Aree and Ralan and to provide better health care facilities to combat and to contain the pandemic crisis.
After assessing the requirements put forwarded by the CMO and Lotha Hoho, the Health Minister assured to address their requirements at the earliest and informed the district to send a qualified person while collecting mentioned materials from the directorate.
Earlier in the day, Pangnyu also handed over one new Ambulance to the district. The Health Minister was accompanied by Minister for Housing Tongpang Ozkum and Advisor for Industries & Commerce, Skill Development, Imnatiba. The Minister was received by Advisor Higher Technical & IT, Science & Technology, New & Renewable Energy, Mmhonlumo Kikon, Advisor for Horticulture & Border Affairs, Mathung Yanthan and MLA Dr.Chumben Murry.
(DPRO & IA, Wokha)