Minister, Health and Family Welfare, Pangnyu Phom as the special guest inaugurating the upgraded Community Health Centre at Kezocha, Kohima on 9th September stated that CHC is a whole-of-society approach to health and ensured the highest possible level of health service and well-being by focusing on people’s needs. He added that the State should not lack in health sector, therefore medical facilities and services is being prioritised at large by the government. He highlighted that the health center at Kezocha was established on 13th July 1979 and after a long gap of more than 30 years, the center has been upgraded to the status of CHC. Stating that some PHCs and CHCs across the State could not be inaugurated till date because of land issues and disputes, Pangnyu expressed happiness to the community for not having such issue and achieving the up-graded CHC Kezocha and encouraged them to be a role model for the rest of the State. "Where there is no land issue, development will be taken up" added Pangnyu. Pangnyu stressed on the importance of vaccination and testing and mentioned that the only solution to be safe is to get vaccinated. He also appreciated that the status of vaccination in the area is about 63% of the population and urged for more social participation for enhanced self-care and self-reliance in health issues. He assured that as per the CHC status, all the facilities for a CHC will be added in due course of time and asked the leaders of the community to take equal responsibilities and be a guardian and a model in taking care of the centre. He appealed the community not to be carried away with fake and fabricated news in social media but to come forward and be a good guardian in all fields besides health sector. Summing up his address, he assured to look into the representation and requirements submitted by the area people. Advisor, Youth Resources & Sports, Er. Zale Neikha acknowledging the Minister for Health and Family Welfare and the Medical department marked that the up gradation to CHC was a long cherished dream and the need of the hour of the Kezo range villages and this accomplishment will be recognised as a major development and achievement of the range. The PHC as it is situated across a few distance from Kohima town, the urgent need of the people was a better medical service and accessibility in the vicinity of the village hence, the PHC serving several villages was in dire need of up gradation thus with the intervention of the Health Minister and the Medical department prioritizing the range PHC to upgrade to CHC became a reality today which will provide a better and proper health service to the people. Neikha requested the medical department to provide facilities, man power and infrastructures borne by a standard Community Health Center in a rural area and also urged the people to support the medical experts and staffs in proper functioning of the health center and further requested them to cooperate and coordinate to make the CHC a stable and sustainable center. Minister for Housing and Mechanical and Minister-in-Charge for Kohima District, Tongpang Ozukum in his note addressed the three categories in health services i.e the primary, secondary and the tertiary and CHC being in secondary category is a vital and basic category in health sector. He mentioned that millions of people worldwide are at the risk of falling into poverty due to spending more out-of-pocket budget in health issues therefore scaling up CHC across low and middle-income areas could save many million lives. The Minister was concerned over the gap between the trusts of public in availing the facilities of government health centers and also requested the medical department to provide all the facilities, infrastructure and manpower for a Community health center to progress smoothly. Advisor, Horticulture and Border Affairs, Mhathung Yanthan in supplementing to health sector, emphasised the correlation between the importance of agricultural sector to health sector and stated that the ultimate development in organic farming leads to better health and generate sustainable livelihood. He further added that the topography and the landscape of the area has a wide potential to develop and become a productive area as the region itself is blessed with rich natural and human resources, which in turn will build a robust economy in future and further encouraged them to take forward the vision of the area people. Principal Director H&FW, Dr. Neikhrielie Khimiao, congratulated the area people for achieving the upgraded CHC and termed it as an extra mile achievement in the midst of the pandemic. He urged the community to be committed and own equal responsibility of the CHC to strengthen, protect and utilise the facility judiciously. Deputy Commissioner, Kohima, Gregory Thejawelie, NCS in his short speech stated that healthcare services was important where it was essential to have healthcare services in various sub division, sub-centers and village levels. He hoped that with the up gradation, the CHC will go a long way in serving the area people. He also requested the Medical Department to ensure minimum specialist doctors to be provided to boost the moral of the centre as well as the area people. He further hoped the area people will response equally and use the best out of the centre. Representing the range, Zasivoto Rote in his note of appreciation acknowledged the Council of Ministers and Advisors accompanied by officers from various level for witnessing their village and making their vision of upgrading to CHC level a success. He also highlighted on the histories as well as the topography of the range and pointed that the range Kezo Chazou is one of the longest range in Nagaland and the geographical location and topology of the range is always ready for inviting any major development in the near future. (DPRO Kohima & Siizo Kikhi, IA Kohima)