Dimapur, May 14 (EMN): With an ever increasing number of Covid-19 cases particularly in Dimapur, the nodal officer for Dimapur district to manage Covid activities, Y Kikheto Sema, has raised urgent requirement for creation of more hospital beds. He also called upon the doctors, nurses and healthcare workers to be mentally prepared for the worst even with the existing facilities and infrastructure.
Kikheto stated this after visiting to the healthcare institutions in an around Dimapur on Friday. An update from Team Dimapur for Covid-19 activities through its media cell stated that Kikheto also interacted with the management and healthcare workers at those hospitals.
It stated that Kikheto, accompanied by the deputy commissioner of Dimapur, Rajesh Soundararajan, and the deputy CMO, Dr. Antoly Swu, visited the AR Composite Hospital at Shoxuvi and interacted with the team of doctors and staff led by DIG Dr. AC Bhardwajan. The team was briefed on the infrastructure and the existing facilities at the 50 bed Covid designated hospital.
Kikheto has suggested finding ways to accommodate more beds to cater to the patients from neighbouring villages to which Dr. AC Bhardwajan assured to put up the matter to the higher authorities.
At Police Hospital in Chümoukedima, the DIG Aotemsu briefed the nodal officer on the plan to make the healthcare centre functional at the earliest. It stated that Kikheto has urged the Nagaland Police led by DIG Aotemsu to use the existing manpower and enable the Police Hospital to accommodate at least 30 beds by way of making make-shift arrangements.
Stating that Nagaland Police have never let down the image of the state in any way, Kikheto appealed to the police personnel present at the Police Hospital to be mentally prepared to face the worst of crisis. He advised the present staff consisting of four doctors and 12 nurses to start managing the PHC. He added that in the event of any requirement, medical personnel of the Nagaland Police from other battalions could be drawn to Chümoukedima.
The team also visited Zion Hospital and Research Centre and interacted with the management and staff. The team was informed that the hospital has kept 6 beds for Covid-19 patients, which would start operations soon. However, the nodal officer requested the hospital authorities to reserve at least 10 beds for Covid-19 patients and to start functioning from tomorrow.
At Faith Hospital Dimapur, the managing director Dr. Sukhato Sema told the visiting team that the hospital authority has reserved 41 beds for Covid-19 patients out of the existing 70 beds. The team was also briefed about the make-shift arrangements being carried out at the hospital premises to accommodate more patients.
Dr. Sukhato Sema expressed willingness to convert the entire hospital beds and facilities for Covid-19 purposes if the need arise. Kikheto Sema has appreciated the gesture shown by Dr. Sukhato and stated that such humanitarian approach would go a long way in boosting the morale of those working tirelessly in the fight against Covid-19.
The team also visited Eden Hospital and interacted with the management and staff at the hospital wherein the nodal officer was briefed on the difficulties of accommodating Covid-19 patients.
However, the officer suggested the management to look at the possibilities of setting up make-shift and temporary structures to meeting the requirements of handling Covid patients. He informed that the government is supporting all the private hospitals who are admitting the Covid-19 patients by providing oxygen cylinder and oxygen concentrators etc. to facilitate the private hospitals. Meanwhile, Kikheto has appreciated all the healthcare and frontline workers for their tireless efforts and further encouraged them to treat their services as an opportunity, which according to him might be a ‘blessing in disguise.’