Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare Menukhol John convened a press briefing to update on issues pertaining to COVID -19 at H&FW Department IDSP Hall on 7th April 2020.
John interacting with media personal about COVID- 19 preparedness in Nagaland said that all districts hospitals are being converted into COVID-19 hospitals. He said that by doing this the main concerns of many people are the patients who come to OPD for general emergency other than COVID-19 patients. He said that the department has issued instructions to all the dedicated COVID-19 hospitals to continue catering the regular OPD cases till COVID patients are detected. He added that the moment COVID cases comes into light the general patients already admitted in the districts hospitals will be relocated to the nearest health unit so that continual general health services are provided to them.
Also on the issue relating to transporters and carriers coming in and out of the state, he said that screenings are done and movements are being monitored on daily basis. He further stated that all necessary steps are taken care of but if there are still some loose ends it will be addressed at the earliest.
On the level of preparedness across the state he stated that the H&FW Principal Director had toured all the districts to carry out on the spot assessment on the ongoing COVID -19 related works and all necessary arrangement has been almost completed to convert all district Hospitals into COVID-19 hospitals.
Also briefing about the issue of testing lab in Nagaland, Kesonyu Yhome IAS convenor of the committee to set up the testing lab in the state said that setting up a testing lab is the need of the hour and Nagaland is on the process to set up a level 3 protocol which is the highest in international standards. He however said despite the pressing need to set up the testing lab it will take some more weeks time set up the testing lab, as security protocol has to be maintained. He said that the four member committees are on the clock for this purpose and assured that this particular issue is the top most priority of the state.
Principal Director H&FW Vizolie Z Suokhrie also clarifying on the testing of samples said that Nagaland is using the highest transport medium called Viral Testing Medium through which the department is transporting its sample for testing. He said that the transport medium is reliable and that there should not be any doubt in the minds of the people.
Highlighting about converting districts hospital into COVID -19 hospitals in the entire districts Suokhrie said that all the districts will have COVID-19 hospital. He stated that in all the districts the converted COVID- 19 hospitals, the general OPDs are open for general and emergency services and alternative arrangement will be made if and when positive COVID cases are detected.
Also commenting on the training for doctors Suokhrie said the training is a continuous process and the training is ongoing not only for doctors but for nurse as well. He further said that Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung districts hospitals are designate hospitals for training the health personals. He added that department has already notified to all the districts hospitals requiring training in ventilators and ICU techniques can sent their health personals in the training hospitals as training is already ongoing.
(Esuihangle, IA)
