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Our Correspondent
Kohima, April 21 (EMN): In an effort to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, Nagaland Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) distributed a total of 14 fumigation machines (fogging machine) to all the districts of Nagaland on Tuesday.
The machines were given away by the state party president and minister of Higher and Technical Education Temjen Imna Along and the deputy chief minister Y Patton in a brief programme held at the latter’s official residence.
Speaking at the programme, Patton stated that the initiative was on the advice of the central party leadership where a total number of 14 machines (one for each district) were procured. He advised to use the machine carefully by taking into account on the public safety.
Along, meanwhile, expressed hope and confidence that the initiative would accelerate the state in the fight to contain Covid-19.
Imna Along said fogging using sodium hypochlorite would reach larger area unlike the sprayer. He added that sodium hypochlorite is one of the most effective chemicals to sanitise anything.
Health minister S Pangnyu Phom, who was also present at the programme, had extended his appreciation to the BJP on behalf of the department for providing the machines.
He added that the state government had also placed an order for purchase but has not arrive yet. He stated that the distribution by the party was the first consignment the department had received.
The fogging machines were told to have procured from South Korea and distributed to all the districts of Nagaland for disinfecting public areas.
The procured machines were distributed in the presence of minister of Housing Tongpang Ozukum, minister of Public Health Engineering Jacob Zhimomi, minister of Geology and Mining Kashiho Sangtam and hosts of BJP legislators.
Amid complains on the issue of sub-standard quality of personal protective equipment (PPE), health minister S Pangnyu Phom clarified that in his letter dated April 16 he had directed the department to ‘recall all inferior and incomplete quality of PPEs and other medical equipments’ that were distributed to the hospitals and health centres.
He said, “Initially there have been little bit of lapses because of panic purchase. Now, the government has come out with a quality control and purchase
committee.”
Phom further stated that the committee would now verify quality of the products and distribute them to all the hospitals and health centres.