Noklak health centres still waiting for thermal scanners

Our Reporter

Dimapur, April 6 (EMN): As the eastern districts of Nagaland try to cope with the lack of basic medical facilities amidst the novel coronavirus pandemic, Noklak has been left to fend for itself.

On being contacted by Eastern Mirror, the senior medical officer (SMO) at Noklak community health centre (CHC), Dr. Victor NC revealed that Noklak health centres do not have thermal scanners and they have not received any personal protective equipment (PPE).

He therefore had to send his vehicle to Tuensang on April 6 to collect the PPE from District Hospital, Tuensang.  

The SMO said there is one CHC at Noklak town with four doctors; one primary health centre at Pangsha with one doctor; one PHC at Panso with only one ANM and no doctor; and one PHC at Thonoknyu with one doctor. The integrated Ayush Hospital at Noklak has four doctors and there are five sub-centres under Noklak.

The CHC in Noklak has been converted to 10-bedded isolation wards; and seven beds for isolation at the integrated Ayush hospital, he informed. Also, there are only two oxygen cylinders, he said.

The SMO said it has been almost a month since the outbreak of the pandemic that they have been asking for thermal scanners but till date they have not received any since it was an urgent requirement as Noklak shares an international boundary with Myanmar.

The doctor said that “the CHC Noklak staff have been preparing their own PPE since health units under Noklak was yet to receive it from the government. We have been stitching the PPE after availing loan as there are no funds for the health centres under Noklak. No donation/contribution from the community as well till now”.

Fortunately, there are no Covid-19 suspect cases under Noklak and the border has been sealed by the village guards, Assam Rifles and village councils, the SMO said.