Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang holds its first consultative fellowship with Dimapur Area Ao medical doctors to discuss collaborations and improve services at Impur Christian Hospital.
MOKOKCHUNG — The Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM) organised its first-ever consultative fellowship with the Dimapur area Ao medical doctors on August 30.
Hosted by the Dimapur Ao Baptist Arogo, the meeting saw the participation of 52 Ao medical doctors in person and 15 others who joined online, according to an update.
In his keynote address, Executive Secretary of ABAM Rev. Temsü Jamir stressed the need to identify potential areas where the organisation and medical professionals can partner to provide holistic service to the people. He noted that ABAM cannot determine the future of its medical institutions without consulting medical professionals.
He identified specialised consultations, training, mentoring, medical camps, emergency and disaster response, and strengthening the palliative care initiative as potential areas for collaboration. He also highlighted the need to promote a community-oriented palliative care network to identify the needs of the elderly and aothers.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Impur Christian Hospital, Dr. Sashi, briefed the gathering on the history and initiatives of missionaries in establishing the hospital. He highlighted the progress made in the palliative care sector as a specialised area at the hospital.
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Sharing the vision of the hospital, Dr. Sashi spoke about establishing the ANM School of Nursing and General Duty Assistant training programmes, through which about 300 personnel have been trained and more than 200 are actively serving. He added that implementing this vision requires the support of medical professionals.
Dr. Obangjungla shared her firsthand experience in palliative care ministry, highlighting the shortage of professionals in Nagaland, which currently has only one MD doctor specialising in palliative care. She noted that Impur Christian Hospital is the only hospital with a six-bedded palliative care facility, and encouraged the gathering to undergo training in the field.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Noktang stated that manpower is the greatest need at present. He added that while the need for specialisation in palliative care is evident, the focus should extend beyond it to other areas of involvement at the hospital. He encouraged medical professionals to view their involvement as a mission and contribute collectively.
As per the update, ABAM plans to organise similar consultative fellowships with Ao medical doctors in the Kohima and Mokokchung areas to improve medical services at Impur Christian Hospital.