Covid-19: Doctors, officers in Nagaland asked to be at their posting place

Dimapur, March 27 (EMN): Minister for Public Health Engineering Jacob Zhimomi appealed to the doctors and sub-divisional officers to stay in their respective places of posting during this crucial hour, wherein Nagaland joins the world in battling the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Zhimomi convened a meeting along with advisor to Sericulture, Excise and Tribal Affairs Zhaleo Rio and advisor to Power Tovihoto in the conference Hall of DC Dimapur on March 27, to review the logistics and implementation by Dimapur district with regard to the Covid-19, an update from DIPR informed.

The minister requested the sub-divisional officers to ‘work in co-ordination with the village council so that no outsiders are hosted in their respective jurisdictions as a preventive step in the fight against Covid 19’ and advised village council members and youths involved in moral policing to use face masks and maintain social distancing.

Zhimomi had asked the medical department to list the requirements in writing through the DC Dimapur so that the exact status would be cleared and also advised legal metrology and Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) to tie up and monitor the issue of price hike of essential commodities for the welfare of the public, the press release read.

Zhaleo Rio lauded government and private Agencies, NGOs, village council and youths for coming forward during these trying times, providing all necessary logistics, cash and kind, and encouraged to continue with their services, it added.

“We are thankful to God as there is no positive case in Nagaland so far, but we should not be complacent,” Zhaleo maintained, adding that “Dimapur has enormous task and you are doing good but can do better”. He went on to say that shopkeepers should not taking advantage of the situation and charge exorbitant rates for essential commodities.

Tovihoto thanked the district administration, police, Medical department and all those involved in containing the spread of Covid-19 so far in Dimapur, considered as the most vulnerable district in Nagaland. He asked the DC to continue to monitor the price hike of essential commodities and medical equipment as well as ensure that there was no rush during shopping hours.

In the meeting, DC Dimapur Anoop Khinchi apprised the elected members on the preparedness and preventive measures being taken to contain the spread of Covid-19. He informed that there are 60 people under quarantine at present in the district.

Khinchi said at the meeting that all ambulances have been requisitioned, out of which 10 have been earmarked for Covid-19 cases, and the new DC office Chümoukedima would be converted into Covid-19 hospital in case of emergency.

Considering the vulnerable situation of Dimapur, the city’s commissioner police, Rothihu Tetseo, proposed imposing complete shutdown and to activate Essential Commodity Task Force to meet emergency needs, provided the state government agrees.

The chief medical officer of Dimapur, Pangjung Sangtam, also apprised the participants of the meeting about the logistics set in place in Dimapur district. He informed that 96 isolation beds have been identified and eight isolation beds with ventilators have also been kept in place so far.

He also informed that 18 ambulances have been requisitioned (both government and private); the drivers have been trained and their contact numbers taken.

DMC administrator Albert Ezung highlighted its activities, including sanitation covering 96 colonies and market places, and daily sweeping, besides expressing concern over the safety of sanitation workers. He also informed that it had begun spraying of disinfectants including quarantined places on Thursday.