An emergency meeting of the Kohima District Task Force (DTF) led by Legislators in-charge of Kohima district, Minister Housing and Mechanical, Tongpang Ozukum and Advisor Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Dr. Nicky Kire was held at DC's Office chamber on 22nd May 2020. The meeting chaired by DC Kohima, Gregory Thejawelie NCS was convened to discuss issues on the management of Quarantine Centres of the district by the DTF as directed by the Empowered Group.
Noting that the Kohima DTF was given the responsibility to supervise the day to day management of the Quarantine Centres of the district, the forum discussed the following issues for better coordination and improvement of the system which has been put in place. The forum decided to deploy more security personnel at the centres for safety of the inmates and also to appoint four officers for the Quarantine Centres to coordinate with the people at facility centres for smooth function of the management system at the centres.
In regard to Hotels to be utilised as paid Quarantine centres, the forum decided that medical workers will be made available on calls as and when needed, security personnel will be put in place and other issues will be implemented as per the SOP submitted by the CMO's Office, Kohima. It was also decided to put forward the suggestion to the government for returnees to be put up first in the facility centres and later to the paid hotels as and when the capacity at the centres are fully accommodated for better management of the system.
Besides the management issues at the centres, unwarranted directive issued by some individuals/organisation obstructing entry of returnees into their colony/ward even after completion of the quarantine period was also taken up where DC informed that meeting has been convened in this regard and directive will be issued in this matter to the concerned individual/Organisations. He also informed the members that the Western Angami Public Organisation (WAPO) has decided to take care of their own people coming from outside the States at the quarantine centres set up in villages under their jurisdiction.
Highlighting the detailed management activities taking place at the Quarantine Centres, Chief Medical Officer, Kohima Dr. Vezokholu informed that nine (9) medical teams have been formed for the Quarantine Centres consisting of eleven (11) medical staff and one Doctor in each team who will be stationed at the Centres on rotation wise basis. She informed that 1360 beds in K. Badze and 501 beds in Meriema Quarantine Centres have been put in place while renovation is going on at JNV Navodaya with a target of 200 plus beds in addition. Two teams were also formed for data entry at the Centres from the CMO's office with seven (7) staff in each team, she added. Besides this, catering the inmates and the working staff and also cleaners and others management were also being taken care at the centres. She also informed that Faith Harvest Church has provided pack lunch to the inmates and working staff at K. Badze centres for four days.
(DPRO, Kohima)
