Nagaland: With barely five hours’ sleep, they run quarantine centres like clockwork

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Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 19 (EMN): Battling lack of sleep and shortage of staff, security forces, doctors and healthcare workers, administrative officials, and all the persons involved in functioning of the quarantine centres are working round the clock to cater to the needs of the people undergoing quarantine.

On visiting the quarantine centres in Kohima on Tuesday—Basic Services for Urban Poor (BSUP) at Meriema and Khriesanuomia Badze, P Khel—around 30 persons from medical team and a few other staff from administration and police were at work to ensure safe and comfortable stay of the people

One of the healthcare workers at BSUP informed that a team of seven (medical staff) including one doctor, three nurses, and three medical attendants, are tending to more than 60 persons coming from red and orange zones.

Besides the medical team, security forces, caterers, staff from the administration, etc., are manning the centre.

“We sleep around 12 midnight and wake up at 5 am for work,” the nurse said. At present, there are more males than females undergoing quarantine, the nurse informed and added that they serve food from room to room (wearing full PPE kits), besides attending to medical needs.

On Tuesday, Faith Harvest Church provided free lunch to the people staying at the quarantine centres in Kohima.

At Khriesanuomia Badze, returnees are from the green zone. As of Tuesday, 22 persons including doctors, nurses, medical attendants, as well as staff from the district administration, police, were on duty, according to the chief medical officer of Kohima, Dr. Vezokholu.

She informed that the centre is catering to returnees bound for eight districts at present—Kohima, Zunheboto, Wokha, Kiphire, Phek, Tuensang, Longleng, and Mokokchung. On Tuesday, 207 persons were under quarantine.

“However, the number of persons is increasing,” she said adding that the centre is expecting more than 60 persons from Shillong.

A control room is being set up at the centre to receive calls and to address the needs and problems of the people staying inside their rooms. “Some of the persons are kept for a period of three or more days at the centre and are sent off to their respective home districts, who will again mandatorily observe minimum period of 14 days quarantine there,” she added.

Dr. Asunu Thong from district TB Centre, Kohima, while giving out the latest report of the people at the centre since May 13, informed that K Badze has accommodated 708 persons, out of which 486 persons were released to other districts.