Kazheto Kinimi, Advisor NSDMA, Abhijit Sinha, Principal Secretary GoN, and Johnny Ruangmei, OSD GoN during the virtual launching of COVID-19 Academy on the December 4. (Photo Courtesy: NSDMA @StateDisaster / Twitter)
COVID-19 Academy Nagaland launched
Kohima, December 5 (MExN): The COVID 19 Academy Nagaland was launched by Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) in collaboration with Sphere India.
The Academy is a joint initiative of Sphere India in collaboration with NSDMA, Home Department, with support from WHO, UNICEF, WFP and HCL Foundation, PRO to Advisor NSDMA & CAWD informed in a press release on Saturday.
About the Academy
As COVID 19 has come as a surprise for the world, the people and authorities alike, it is important to understand that we are in for a long haul. As we live and work to fight this pandemic, the right understanding of the basics of the COVID-19 is the need of the hour, especially for those directly fighting in the fields, the release stated.
The COVID-19 Academy Nagaland aims to provide a collective platform for frontline volunteers, FBO, NGOs, CSO and other technical experts in their respective field for a resilient preparedness and response to COVID-19 related disasters through a series of online trainings which will be held from December 7 to 11.
The trainings will cover topics such as ‘Basic Science and Stigma of COVID 19’, ‘Disability Inclusive COVID-19 Pandemic Response’, ‘Basic Care and Management of COVID-19 Patient’, ‘Mental Health and Psychosocial Issues of COVID-19’ and ‘COVID-19 and Genetic Variants’.
The launching ceremony was moderated by Johnny Ruangmei, OSD to the Government of Nagaland.
Kamal Kishore, Member, NDMA presented the keynote address saying,” We have to imbibe the lessons from COVID-19 , and find various ways to strengthen the public health infrastructure, as well as allied services such as nutritional services. We need to see what are the lessons we can adopt for us to be prepared for the future.”
Kazheto Kinimi, Advisor, NSDMA presented the special address. “The COVID-19 Academy Nagaland has lined up powerful sessions through which we hope all you will be better equipped with proper guidance and training to save and the people you look after in a much more efficient way,” Kinimi stated.
Abhijit Sinha, Principal Secretary to the Government of Nagaland outlined the state’s changing strategy ‘as learning from experience’ in dealing with the pandemic since its onset in the State in March, 2020. He also emphasized that the state need to cope with the pandemic without compromising economic development, and in this regard, he lauded the joint initiative of NSDMA and Sphere India- COVID-19 Academy and wished that the venture would help in developing a progressive strategy dealing with the pandemic.
Dr Nyanthung Kikon, State Nodal Officer, DHFW, Nagaland speaking on behalf of the Department of Health and Family Welfare outlined the experience of Nagaland in dealing with the pandemic, the initial responses and the challenges. He also conveyed the willingness of the department of Health and Family welfare to support Sphere India to provide a platform to address common issues, capacity building to frontline workers and community.
Dr Sedevi Angami, Director CIHSR shared his thoughts on the new normal and the medical aspect of the pandemic, he emphasized the importance of identifying the right allocation of resource and coordinating the resource effectively.
Information needs to be scrutinized most importantly the media personnel has to be trained for proper dissemination of information. Various source of multiple guidelines needs to be properly streamlined and there is need for public and private partnership to identify, strengthen and communicate.
Communication between sectors is pivotal and the stake holders need to be involved in planning designing and implementation and evaluation on a regular basis. Disaster management curriculum has to be introduced in schools and there is need for a continuous engagement of community for strengthening DDR, he observed.
Vikrant Mahajan, CEO, Sphere India said, “COVID 19 Academy has been an experience that started as a collaboration with many organizations and in a period of time it has reached many people and has been instrumental to build capacities of front line workers, the volunteers and others since its launch. The Nagaland COVID 19 Academy will emphasize on reaching the people in containment of the COVID-19,” he said.
Dr Subhajit Battacharjee, Sub Regional Team Lead WHO NE said , ”There should be a sound emergency and disaster risk management system for sustainable development, building the resilience of communities and comprehensive risk management with a comprehensive approach, inter-sectoral collaboration, community participation and health system strengthening.”
Dr Maulik Shah Health Specialist, UNICEF said,”COVID-19 Academy is an opportunity and it is an initiative in the right time and will be very fruitful with the vaccine knocking on the door. UNICEF has been closely working with the Nagaland state and will continue to support the state in any initiative.”
