Dimapur, March 24 (EMN): Minister for Health and Family Welfare S Pangnyu Phom on Tuesday expressed satisfaction with the arrangements being made at the Rangapahar military hospital in the event of possible novel coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak in the district.
According to a press update, Phom accompanied by advisor to IPR, SCERT and VG, Toshi Wungtung, visited the military hospital at Rangapahar, Eden Hospital, Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (CIHSR) and Dimapur Airport on March 24.
Nine isolation beds and eight ICU units with one ventilator and two transport ventilators exclusively for Covid-19 cases have been set aside at the military hospital, it informed.
Lt. General RP Kalita informed the minster and his entourage that in case of "extreme emergency" they have prepared a team of 100 people to work in shifts in any of the isolation zones. He informed that leave has been extended to those soldiers already on leave and those who have returned from leave for unavoidable reasons have been quarantined, read the statement.
Kalita further stated that all borders including Myanmar and Longwa have been completely sealed. He said troops have been deployed to prevent movement of people not only in Nagaland but also Manipur and Mizoram.
At Eden Hospital, Pangnyu and his team held a brief meeting with the Nagaland Private Doctors Association (NPDA). He informed the NPDA that the proposal with regard to Covid-19 submitted by them would be addressed during his meeting with the chief minister and the cabinet so that "collectively it could be studied for the benefit of the entire state."
"Let us all work together because only government sector alone cannot do without the help of your specialised skills," Pangyu appealed.
At CIHSR, medical superintendent Dr. Clement said that 10 beds have been set up, 120 staff been trained and a separate rapid response team exclusively for Covid-19 cases has been put in place, read the statement. He however expressed concern on the limited ventilators and said only two to three ventilators could be spared even in case of sudden outbreak of Covid-19.
Clement also lamented that the hospital would be able to take limited patients as it was attending to several dialysis and cancer patients. He also told the minister about the shortage of protective gears and N-95 masks for the healthcare workers, adding that the hospital currently has only 25 gowns which would be over in a day for three shifts, if emergency arises, it read.
Wungtung described the present scenario as a "holistic problem and not just medical problem". He advised the people not to panic and encouraged the frontline workers to continue to work on a 'war footing', it added.