No patient at Covid-19 hospital, Kohima; AYO expresses concerns

‘We will start regulating the movement of people and vehicles despite the govt. order’

Our Correspondent
Kohima, April 3 (EMN): With the Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima (NHAK) having stopped taking new patients and those undergoing treatment being shifted to other healthcare facilities after it was declared a Convid-19 hospital last month, there is no patient in the facility.

Dr. Thorusie Katiry, the managing director of NHAK, told Eastern Mirror on Friday that there is “not a single patient” in the hospital. He however informed that there were three persons at the quarantine centre in Meriema under Kohima district, which could house up to 225 people.

According to the standard protocol, Katiry said, first patients tested positive for the Convid-19 will be admitted to the designated Convid-19 hospital at Chedema, as per Plan A. He added that the government has set aside the NHAK to accommodate patients in the event of the facility at Chedema running out of beds for patients, as per Plan B.

Currently, there are 20 beds at the Covid-19 hospital in Chedema, while 65 beds have been arranged at NHAK for Convid-19 patients.

Earlier, the government of Nagaland had issued an order asking patients to shift to private hospitals in Kohima as NHAK had to be converted into a Convid-19 hospital in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

The director informed that there were more than 70 patients, including those in ICU at the time of announcing the facility into a Convid-19 hospital. He added that patients were given proper guidelines and shifted to private nursing homes while most of them went home.

“Those patients who really require the attention of doctors were sent to the nursing homes,” he stated.

Patients left with no option, says AYO

The Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) has stated that conversion of NHAK, the only government hospital in Kohima, to Covid-19 hospital has become a matter of concern for citizens who need medical treatment. It said the people of the district are now left with no option but to opt for private hospitals for any kind of treatment.

Even while expressing the need to take impromptu measures to combat the deadly virus, the organisation said in a statement on Friday that it would appreciate if the state government arrange an alternative, where people who can’t afford private hospitals, can avail treatment.

AYO also stated that it was deeply troubled by the increasing number of foreigners in the state, from five on March 30 to 20 on April 2 as per the data provided by the department of Health and Family Welfare, despite the blanket ban on tourists (both domestic and international) imposed by the state government on March 16 and the subsequent nationwide lockdown.

Describing the trend as “disturbing”, the organisation has sought to know from the chief secretary and the home commissioner as to how the lapses occurred. “We also would like to know why tourists were permitted at this time, which is in total violation of the order on the blanket ban,” it added.

AYO also stated that Kohima witnessed a mixed response to the nationwide lockdown with many “irresponsible citizens” continuing to violate the order and people thronging the streets during the window — 10 am to 2 pm – being opened for the public to buy essential commodities.

The organisation said that its officials “will also start regulating the movement of people and vehicles in the town” despite the order issued by the principal secretary and home commissioner, Abhijit Sinha, disallowing organisations to implement the state government’s orders. It stated that “the organisation is compelled to stand up and respond to the lackadaisical approach of the government and the public”. It has also requested the police personnel to restrict vehicles carrying essential commodities to stop unnecessary on the highway.

Further, AYO has urged people staying in Kohima to adhere to the directives of the district administration and health department. Stating that it had come to its knowledge that people coming from outside, especially non locals, had been defying the directive on quarantine, the organisation has warned of strict actions against the defaulters. It has also requested the government to provide protective gear to police personnel manning the check gates and asked volunteers in various parts of the state to wear face mask.