Continuing with the Poshan Maah (Poshan Abhiyaan) activities meeting with the Lotha Hoho, Team Metamorphosis, church leaders, Lotha Student’s Union and Lotha youth Hoho a programme on Innovative and suggestive actions: removal of stigma around COVID-19 on 12th September 2020 at Deputy Commissioner Conference hall, Wokha. This month long event is conducted in convergence with Local Administration and involving stakeholders in the district.
SDO (C) Wokha Chonpenthung Ezung while addressing the meeting said that Poshan Maah is a month long activity specifically made to target and sensitize about the importance of malnutrition. He stated that right nourishment and proper nutrition can help prevent us from various diseases, good nutrition is the key to good health as it help maintain and
improve our health. He also stressed on the importance of disseminating right information in order to do away with stigma and discrimination about the doctors, frontline workers, sanitation workers and police, as they are rendering their best of services tirelessly to provide care and support during such pandemic crisis and added they all deserve our appreciation.
Ezung also thanked the NGOs led by the Lotha Hoho, LSU, Lotha Youth Hoho and other civil societies for coming forward in extending their helping hand in the fight against combating
this pandemic. He also highlighted on the importance of 3ws, wear mask, wash hands and watch your distance. SDO also appealed to all the civil societies to continue in helping the government in combating the disease.
Dr.Thungjanbeni S Patton, while sharing on the topic ‘Removal of stigma around COVID-19’ said, this virus is going to stay with us and it now our responsibility to take all precautionary measures by following SOPs and guideline for our safety. She further stated that we need to understand the mental trauma the frontline workers and returnees are facing/undergoing due to stigma and discrimination as they have the feeling of rejection and may not be their normal self again, where she urged all to extend support and care to overcome the depression. She also added we need to avoid spreading wrong information and maintain privacy and confidentiality of the persons living with the virus.
District Coordinator, Poshan Abhiyaan, Shanjothung Ngullie led the gathering in reading out the pledge. He also informed that so far 164 poshan maah has been carried out within the district since 1st September, where he also called upon all to continue supporting for the successful conduct of the remaining events.
(Zubenthung, IA Wokha)