[caption id="attachment_171531" align="alignnone" width="550"]
S Pangnyu Phom speaking during the launch of the Swachhata Pakhwada at Naga Hospital Kohima on April 2.[/caption]
Kohima Bureau
Kohima, April 2 (EMN): Nagaland’s Minister of Health & Family Welfare S Pangnyu Phom launched the Swachhata Pakhwada (‘cleanliness fortnight’) at the Naga Hospital in Kohima on April 2.
Speaking at the launch of the programme, Phom said, ‘Cleanliness plays a vital role in our daily lives.’ He spoke about the importance of hygiene as the key to preventing and ‘curing’ all sorts of diseases affecting the environment and health.
“Setting a standard for environmental cleanliness, effective cleaning is our first line of defense against virus and infectious diseases. It is not only to keep our health but also happy in our daily life,” the minister said.
Phom urged medical personnel to led the mission for society’s hygiene from their places—hospital, clinic and health centers. Maintaining that such an initiative would set a good example for the public toward living a healthier and cleaner life, he reminded them that cleanliness should start from the individual and family. That way, the minister said, other people may see and emulate the example.
‘Keeping the country clean will earn a place of respect in the eyes of tourists visiting the state and the country,’ the minister said.
Phom explained further that cleanliness was an ‘important factor for human health and spiritual development’ as much as it was also essential for environmental development.
The minister administered the pledge for Swachhata Pakhwada.
The nodal officer for Swachh Bhara, Dr. Tokuhu Chishi, said in his welcome address that ‘Swachhata Se Siddhi’ was the tagline of the event. It is celebrated as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission every year since the launch of the mission, he said.
Swachhata Pakhwada started in April 2016 with the objective of bringing a fortnight of ‘intense focus on issues and practices of hygiene’ by engaging the government of India ministries and departments in their jurisdictions.
