Owing to the prevailing COVID-19 situation in Kohima district, a virtual meeting of Kohima District Task Force on COVID-19 was virtually held on 21st May 2021 under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner and Chairman DTF Kohima, Gregory Thejawelie, NCS.
The virtual meeting was participated by Minister-in-charge for Kohima district Minister PWD (Housing and Mechanical), Tongpang Ozukum along with State Nodal Officer for Kohima district & Secretary PHED, Kesonyü Yhome, IAS; CMO Kohima, Dr Vezokholu Theyo; MS NHAK, Dr. Sentimeren Aonok, AKMWP and AYO representatives and other DTF members.
Deliberating on essential service hospitals, Minister Tongpang asked NHAK officials and CMO to work out the plan for alternative hospitals keeping in mind of the previous year’s incidences where many people were affected when the NHAK was converted to Covid Hospital. He also felt that Red Cross ambulance be requisitioned for emergency services during such pandemic. On 24X7 dedicated helpline including the private hospitals, the Minister felt that the hospital ambulance services should also be provided and asked to coordinate with the private hospitals in this matter.
State Nodal Officer, Kesonyü Yhome pointed out that at this stage, the DTF has to be prepared in such a manner that the situation was already there and therefore all the DTF proposal made today has to be operationalised by Monday to understand where the District exactly stand. He also suggested for random sampling in rural areas to assess the positivity rate in the community.
On the agenda of delivery of essential health care services with the designation of NHAK as Covid Hospital, Dr. Sentimeren enlightened the members on the progress of opening up the Covid wards and Covid ICU at NHAK and on the essential health care services continuing at the same time at NHAK.
Dr. Sentimeren informed that preparation is underway for shifting the serious Covid patients from Meriema Covid Hospital to NHAK Covid Hospital as instructed by the Government. At present, the NHAK has not fully converted to Covid Hospital as there are lots of patients who still requires essential services, however Dr. Sentimeren informed that if worst comes to worst then these non covid patients have to be shifted to the associated community health centres as directed by the medical department where facilities and essential services will be given to them in all the respective community health centers in the district.
CMO also informed that all Medical Officers of CHCs and PHCs will be directed to be stationed in their respective posting places where vaccination will continue in the centres and specialist consultation will be in place. On re-activation of TB & Chest disease hospital Khuzama to Covid Hospital and identifying Seikhazou UPHC for 24X7 essential services and other related issues, CMO was entrusted to examine and propose to DTF in order to take up with the concerned department.
On the status of availability of oxygen and essential medicine, Dr. Sentimeren informed that within a week time additional points of oxygen will be completed in the NHAK. He informed the house that another 1,000 LPM which is almost three times the size of the present capacity is to be installed at NHAK, as conveyed by the Department, for which preparation is under process. On the difficulty of getting the oxygen regulator all over the country, he informed that the department is taking this matter on top priority to address as quickly as possible at the earliest.
The meeting also deliberated on various issues pertaining to the COVID-19 related matters in the District and decided the to take up the following as follows: one ambulance to be stationed at Meriema for transferring any severe Covid patients to NHAK; NHAK and CMO office to immediately work out the plan for essential health care service requirements and shifting of OPD and vaccination centre to PMTI at the earliest; to work out the feasibility of setting up of Covid care centre at Sub-Divisional level along with district administration officers, medical officers and ASHAs and to sensitise the public on the disposal of Covid dead bodies through social and print media
Reviewing on the total lockdown measures, the DTF with the observations and suggestions from various corners felt that more stringent measures have to be imposed in the extended lockdown. The DTF has therefore entrusted all Village and ward/colony authorities to be more vigilant and strictly monitor the non-essential movement in their respective jurisdictions and areas. Wearing of mask and social distance will be strictly imposed on the shopping days and to strictly implement the modification of lockdown directives in regard to opening timing of markets and closure of takeaways, food delivery services in the district.
(DPRO, Kohima)