Naga Hospital Kohima staff told to be prepared to tackle coronavirus

Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 21 (EMN): The managing director (MD) of Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK), Dr. Thorusie Katiry, on Saturday advised the medical professionals and staff “not to panic” but to be mentally prepared to tackle any kind of eventualities.

Medical officers, nurses and other health workers were briefed on the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) at the hospital’s main lobby on Saturday, March 21.

During the briefing, stringent directives were given to the healthcare workers and staff, to follow the hospital’s “one patient, one attendant” policy.

Katiry told the staff that they should be well aware of the “Dos and Don’ts” as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines and directed to minimise operations, unless it was an emergency case (life saving case). He informed that separate Out Patient Department (OPDs) would be set up for patients showing symptoms of Covid-19, and that no casual leave would be entertained in the hospital unless was an emergency case.

The managing director, while motivating the staff said, “If medical staff starts to panic and be afraid in the fight of the virus, where do patients go?”

Meanwhile, the MD maintained while interacting with media persons at his office chamber that the hospital and its staff were mentally prepared to face any kind of eventuality. He informed that the health department and NHAK had a meeting on March 20 where several topics were discussed at length.

“If a patient shows positive symptoms while screening in the hospital from Kohima, they will be sent to Ayush hospital and resort, Chedema and other identified isolation wards for treatment,” he said. He also maintained that adequate face masks and hand sanitisers has been reserved by the hospital.

However, there is shortage of personal protective equipments (PPE) which the hospital has conveyed to the state Health department. He asserted that the department of Health and Family Welfare had assured to provide the required equipments to the hospital and all other district hospitals.

On the non-availability of testing centre in the state, the MD informed that the Health department had tied up with the nearest centres located in Imphal, Guwahati and Dibrugarh (ICMR laboratory) for Nagaland.

Katiry also disclosed that the state has also tied up with courier services to transport samples to Imphal for quick diagnosis, and that doctors and healthcare workers from the hospital were also sent to Delhi for training regarding the novel coronavirus as Training of Trainers (ToTs).