The Women Department of Phom Baptist Christian Association (PBCA), Longleng under the District Task Force Longleng is managing the Covid-19 community kitchen voluntarily inside the mission compound (Phom Lempong) by converting the PBCA kitchen to official Covid-19 kitchen (C19K). They have been catering to hundreds of people daily including returnees and front line workers since May 18th and completed 35 days of selfless service to the people. Since day one they have been working tirelessly to provide seamless supply of well-cooked organic food and varieties of other delicacies from time to time. The kitchen management committee comprised of all the lady staffs and wives of the PBCA staffs headed by P. Angbhen Phom, Woman secretary PBCA and Chingong, Literature secretary.
Tialemba Executive secretary PBCA informed that initially people were scared of COVID-19 and was reluctant to cater service to the inmates in the Quarantine center. He said when the Deputy Commissioner & Chairmen District Task Force approached the association to volunteer and manage the covid-19 kitchen the PBCA took the task knowing the risk. He also acknowledged that the PBCA have received gratitude and appreciations from the parents when their children are discharged from the quarantine center for providing good food and free service. He further mentioned that everything in the district is running smoothly because of the consolidate effort of the Government officers and frontline workers with NGOs and Churches under the District administration.
Sharing her experience the kitchen management leader, Angbhen said that the team felt privilege and grateful to volunteer their service to the community during such crisis. She said everyday was a new experience without regret and they have not received any complain from the quarantines, medical staffs, security and public.
Angbhen also acknowledged the unceasing contribution and donation towards Covid -19 kitchen from various Organization & Societies, Churches, village councils, individuals and well wishers from far and near. The fire keeps burning because not a day goes by without receiving Cash, Rice, Food stuff, firewood, fresh fruits, organic vegetables and other items for the covid-19 kitchen and added the C19K team is overwhelmed by the generous contribution from various quarter. She asserted that Covid-19 has pulled everyone together with one responsibility to contain and defeat the virus but there is no end to this fight. Giving a strong message to the people she said our strength to fight this virus lies in our unity, compassion, faith, prayer and discipline of our people.
The Longleng Town Students union (LTSU) under Phom Students conference (PSC) is shouldering the responsibility of delivering food items to the quarantine centers and working hand in hand with the C19K management committee as Delivery team from day one. The punctual and active service of the Delivery Team is catering good service to the quarantine centers without unpleasant report from any angel.
The PBCA team lead by the Executive Secretary has also visited the remote villagers of Assam Nagaland border and provided face mask to the villagers and security guards. They have been providing face mask to the members of the DTF, LTSU and others since outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. Besides, they organized prayer programs in the quarantine centers from time to time. The amount of responsibility the PBCA is shouldering for Covid-19 with limited strength is immense in the district. The yeoman services are purely voluntary without compensation. The only reward they receive in return is gratitude from well wishers.
(Manjong Phom, IA Longleng)
