Dimapur, April 29 (EMN): To test the preparedness of the district task force (DTF) in handling emergency situation in the event of Covid-19 outbreak, Tuensang, Phek, Wokha and Mon districts conducted a mock-drill on April 29.
In Tuensang, the district task force on Covid-19 and district disaster management authority (DDMA) conducted the mock-drill at GHSS, Tuensang. A simulation of real emergency situation was undertaken by the personnel from the district administration and medical staff during the mock-drill.
The exercise began with the news of a 24-year-old male patient from District Hospital (DH) Tuensang being tested positive for Covid-19. The patient was stated to have come from Dimapur by a taxi on April 14 and resides with his parents at 'B' colony High school area in Tuensang town.
The following exercise saw the patient’s family members been taken away by ambulance to a designated quarantine centre whose samples were collected and sent for testing. The driver, passengers and friends of the patient were instructed to undergo strict home quarantine on the same day by the CMO control room. Basing on the information from Rapid Response Team (RRT), police immediately sealed the containment zone and District Hospital.
Later, all the primary contacts of high risk suspect were sent to DH for sample collection and facility quarantine for observation. Besides disinfecting the containment zone, district administration also deployed the field level workers such as Anganwadi, Asha, trained volunteers for contact tracing.
A DIPR report stated that the mock-drill exercise witnessed improvement of the actual resources personnel like medical workers, security personnel, trained volunteers and other officers etc.
In Phek district, the mock-drill was conducted at Phek town. The mock-drill was conducted to review the Covid-19 response plan and containment strategy, enhance coordination with the various government resources, manpower, logistics and communication.
The scenario for the mock-drill included reporting to the control room regarding a person showing symptoms that are associated with Covid-19, transporting of patients to Covid-19 Hospitals, swab sample collection, sending of sample to the testing centres, handling of Covid-19 patients and quarantine of relatives.
The mock-drill was followed with debriefing by the deputy commissioner and chairman of district task force on Covid-19 in his office’s conference hall where certain gaps and suggestions noted by the observers were deliberated upon.
In Wokha, the mock-drill was conducted at District Hospital Wokha.
Briefing members prior to the drill, ADC Wokha, K Mhathung Tsanglao, stated that the objective of conducting the exercise was to assess the preparedness level in the district while managing patients or persons coming in contact with the virus.
The mock exercise was divided in to six different categories, Green ward-mild disease, yellow-moderate disease, orange- severe disease, red ward (ICU)- very severe disease, and black ward- handling of deceased patient.
Athungbeni had demonstrated on hand hygiene, doffing and donning of PPE, while Dr. Weimeri highlighted on do’s and don’ts in ICU during the mock exercise.
In Mon district the mock-drill was conducted at District Hospital, Mon. The mock-drill was focused on the management of any patient coming to the hospital with the symptoms of Covid-19. The drill was witnessed by administration, police, medical staff, members of Red Cross Society and other NGOs.