Our Reporter
Dimapur, Nov. 12(EMN): A 200-bedded fully equipped Acute Care Hospital Block at Christian Institute of Health and Science Research (CIHSR) was inaugurated by Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio on Friday.
The pre-engineered health facility (modular steel and glass building) was completed in 100 days with the help of Glocal Healthcare Systems Private Limited, Kolkata, which offered its expertise.
Addressing the programme, which was attended by Deputy CM Y Patton, Health minister S Pangnyu Phom, Chief Secretary J Alam and other officials, Rio said the facility will help provide quality healthcare services to patients, especially the poor, and the increase in the number of beds will benefit the people of the state as well as neighbouring states.
While stating that the government received much criticism on social media platforms during the initial stage of the project, with some questioning why it was set up at CIHSR and not government hospitals, he clarified that the hospital (CIHSR) is a partnership of the state government with the CMC Vellore and Immanuel Society.
He added that the state government is controlling it and ‘the two societies had come to rescue us and to give services to the needy sick people’, adding that ‘we must not think that we are giving away’.
The CM went on to say that the criticisms made them stronger and more determined to do everything right. He said that they had checked government hospitals before deciding to set up the new facility at CIHSR as it had land and other facilities, including manpower -- doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff.
He also thanked the Glocal Healthcare System Pvt. Ltd. Kolkata for offering its expertise in building the 200-bedded facility in a record time.
Rio said that the Covid-19 pandemic has not only impacted the people and cost many precious lives but also affected many livelihoods, and that ‘it is going to cost us many more problems’.
Stating that there are many qualified doctors and nurses in government hospitals across the state, he asked them to work hard and earn the trust of the people so that they will come to their hospitals. “Otherwise they have to rush to private hospitals in the far-flung districts as there are no private hospitals in many districts except for government community health centres (CHCs) and primary healthcare centres (PHCs)”.
He urged the CHCs and PHCs to provide healthcare at the doorstep of the people as opting for medical treatment at private hospitals will not only be expensive but also can cost the sick some precious time.
“When government is so lethargic and when we cannot complete projects in time, people will lose faith in us, therefore let us rededicate ourselves,” he said.
Citing the possibility of the third wave of Covid-19, the CM said ‘we should always be on guard and encourage the people to adapt a healthy lifestyle as habits affect one’s health’. He also encouraged the people to take vaccine as it is the only prevention or protection.
He said that social media rumours and propaganda had caused vaccine hesitancy in many people, which is why Nagaland is listed among the worst performing state in Covid-19 vaccination.
Pangnyu Phom also appealed to the people to get vaccinated before it’s too late, while cautioning that the people shouldn’t take the disease lightly just because the cases have declined.
He stated that despite the undue criticism from certain sections and other obstacles, the Health department and all involved had done a commendable service in fighting the Covid-19 till date. ‘These (healthcare workers) are our real heroes and brave hearts to whom we should pay our earnest respect,’ he said.
He said that health infrastructures like BSL-Lab, TrueNat, PSA oxygen plants, oxygen concentrators etc. installed during the pandemic will be of great value and help in the long run.
Phom said the acute care facility will help the state manage the current pandemic and after. The block was built in a record time and it is an indication of the efficiency of our government and all agencies involved in this project, he stated.
He also updated that the hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art facility from diagnostics to treatment, and will be a permanent structure with only ICU/HDU beds with ventilators, Bipaps, HFNC, oxygen etc. for acute care even post pandemic.
He also informed that the Government of India had sanctioned a revised approval for National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) worth INR 12 crore for the state.
The CEO of Glocal Healthcare Systems Private Limited Kolkata, Azim, stated that the Acute Care Hospital Block, a 200-bedded digital acute facility, was built in 100 days.
He said that the hospital should ensure that the people benefit from the technology and work with the state to achieve their objective.
Y Patton also shared that the idea about the project struck during the heights of the second wave of coronavirus, when a dire need for increasing hospital beds and provisions for acute care was felt. He added that it became necessary in case a third wave hits the state.
He updated that under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act 2005, the state government to set up a 200-bedded Acute Care Hospital Block at CIHSR in the shortest possible time and ‘it will now be functional now’.
J Alam gave the opening remarks while Amramdeep S Bhatia, Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department, briefed on the project at the programme.