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Dimapur, July 7 (EMN): A protest against the recent incident in Peren district, where 32 out 96 returnees from Haryana had tested positive for Covid-19 after being sent for home quarantine, was held on Tuesday morning at the deputy commissioner’s (DC) office in Peren district .
The convener of the joint action committee (JAC) for Covid-19 in Peren informed Eastern Mirror that the agitation on Tuesday was the “sum total of anger” built up over the days, and incidents involving the returnees to the district.
It was informed that the protest was organised by the Zeliangrong Students’ Union Nagaland (ZSUN), Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) and Zeme Youth Organisation Nagaland (ZYON).
He further stated that the protest was also against the ‘lack of rapid response’ from the Health department to take immediate corrective measures in six containment areas in the towns and villages of the district.
Citing that there is also a lack of leadership in the district task force (DTF) and the district administration in their efforts to fight Covid-19, the convener said that the deputy commissioner’s office was locked, banners hung at the office gates, placards displayed in the vicinity; and a memorandum was submitted to the chief minister of Nagaland through the additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Jalukie.
“Symbolic protests were conducted in all villages of Peren; more than 117 villages participated in today’s protest,” said the convener.
Slogans that said, “Do not make Peren Covid-19 hotspot due to your inefficiency”, while also demanding an able team leader for the district task force, were seen displayed on placards and banners.
A banner at the DC office gate also read: “sheltering and rewarding guilty officers are an insult to Peren district; ‘to err is human’ is no justification for repeated mistakes, erring doctors – your apology and your absconding need justification.”
It may be mentioned that in a press release issued on Monday, the committee stated that on the night of June 23, at around 10.30 pm, two doctors had released 96 Haryana returnees from quarantine centres “to their respective villages” without conducting a second test.
“The two doctors viz., Dr. KevihulieMeyase, DVBO, and Dr. NukshisanglaJamir DPO (UIP/RCH), in gross violation of the laid down protocol, released the 96 returnees; and the recent development where the government, instead of reprimanding the doctors for their irresponsible action, has transferred them to the state capital, which is akin to being rewarded for their action in spreading the virus to every villages under Peren district. The total lack of will to initiate appropriate actions against such audacious and brash behaviour of the doctors will only invite more inefficiency,” it stated.
According to the committee, on the morning of June 25, in the presence of the deputy commissioner and the chief medical officer, it assured “full safety and co-operation” to the two doctors and the medical team; and had asked them to carry out the immediate action plan to contain the virus.
“But to our utter dismay and in total disregard to the joint action committee, we came to learn that the two doctors absconded and did not report to duty thereafter. Such level of irresponsibility should not be rewarded with posting in the state capital but rather appropriate action should be taken upon them for the crime committed,” it had said.
Meanwhile, in the memorandum submitted to the chief minister, the ZSUN, the KSO, and the ZYON have termed the transfer of two doctors as an insult “to our people”. They demanded “immediate exemplary actions” against the two doctors.
Also, the three organisations demanded a full-fledged chief medical officer in Peren; and the incumbent deputy commissioner to be replaced by “someone who is competent”.
Team Peren reinforced
Meanwhile, on Tuesday night, the minister for Health and Family Welfare, S Pangnyu Phom tweeted some of the steps the government has taken to “contain the situation” in Peren.
‘The government and department are very concerned over the spike in Covid-19 positive cases in Peren district. As an effort to contain the situation, the department has posted three permanent doctors and deputed five senior doctors along with six laboratory technicians and six DEOs to provide technical support to Team Peren,’ he announced.