Our Correspondent
Kohima, Aug. 15 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Sunday said that the ferocity of the second wave of the pandemic had tested people’s capacities and resilience but the state has made concerted efforts to combat the pandemic successfully.
‘The state took preventive measures in time, and moved swiftly to augment health infrastructure, particularly the availability of oxygen across the state, which is the most critical element in the fight against Covid-19’, he said while addressing the 75th Independence Day programme held at Secretariat Plaza in Kohima.
From modest oxygen facilities last year, the state now has six functional PSA oxygen plants with a daily capacity of 3.7 metric tons and another 19 plants are under installation in various district hospitals and some community health centres, he shared.
He informed that there were 1816 oxygen concentrators and 6082 oxygen cylinders of various capacities. It also provided equipment to the government as well as private health facilities so that sufficient oxygen- supported beds including ICU and HDU beds were available to meet any emergency, he said.
Further, the state is also building a 200-bedded hospital for acute medical care in Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (CIHSR) Dimapur, ‘which is likely to get operational in a few weeks from now. This hospital, in the short run, will also be invaluable for our people, including children, should there be a third wave of Covid-19’, he added.
Despite the best efforts put in by everyone concerned, however, there have been cases of people succumbing due to Covid-19, he said.
Rio also appealed to all eligible persons to take the vaccine not only in their personal interest but also in the greater interest of their family and the community.
He commended villages that had made extra efforts to get 100% of their residents protected by taking vaccines. He expressed hope that remaining villages would also proactively work towards getting this 100% vaccination status.
The chief minister also appreciated healthcare and frontline workers in the state and across the world, for the enormous sacrifices that they have made for the cause of humanity.
He further urged all to remind oneself that their conduct, behaviour and safety precautions would largely determine the level of impact in the event of any further future wave.
‘Therefore, continue to be vigilant and work collectively as one united force against this global pandemic,’ he said.
‘The Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdowns required to check the spread of infection, have made the people realise the importance of building the skills and making them self-reliant to earn livelihoods.
Therefore, the government has focused on strengthening the Agri and allied sector, skills and service sector and trade and commerce with the four key objectives namely, self-reliance, re-skilling, gainful employment and facilitation’, he added.