Team of mobile practitioners conducting surgery under the CM-MOT at Meluri district on January 27. (Photo Courtesy: CM-MOT Team)
Morung Express news
Kohima | January 28
Accessing quality healthcare services in interior parts of the state continue to remain a challenge. However, with the government's vision to reach rural areas through the Chief Minister’s Mobile Operation Theatre (CM-MOT), advanced surgical and healthcare services is set to reach rural and remote areas of Nagaland.
After the project was first flagged off by Governor La Ganesan on Republic Day, January 26, a dedicated team of medical professionals reached Nagaland’s youngest district, Meluri.
Speaking to Kohima town MLA and a renowned medical practitioner, Dr Tsielhoutuo Rhetso who is leading the team informed that 24 different operations, both minor and major surgeries, have been conducted in Meluri district on January 27. All the interventions were free of cost.
For these medical practitioners who have been undertaking surgeries of different kind on an everyday basis. Here in the MOT, their motive lies in making unique intervention with their facilities and expertise which may otherwise be not available in hospitals in Kohima or Dimapur.
“Our youngest patient was a 4 month child with cleft lips,” Dr Rhütso explained sharing satisfaction and optimism that they will be able to bring smile to a child in future. He said others were kidney cases which were administered without surgery and keyhole operations were also taken up.
The MLA said he is accompanied by anesthesiologist, other surgeon, technician, pharmacist, driver along with private practitioners and government doctors who are willing to give their services to the public as and when required further adding that technical support and consultants are from KOHIMAS hospital, Kohima.
Elaborating on how the initiative began to materialise, Dr Rhütso observed that many Nagas are covered under health schemes such as PMJAY and CMHIS. However this being a privilege of many urban and town dwellers availing free and easy access to health care both in public and private health centres.
For rural populace or those in remote pockets, many cannot avail services in their areas due to lack of facilities or due to financial constraints.
“Investigation like Ultrasound, CT Scan, x-ray etc which cost only few thousands, but they spend huge expenditure due to travel or other amenities,” he opined.
When I proposed this mobile operation theatre in rural areas which is more like a mobile hospital on wheels, Chief Minister was generous in agreeing and funding the basic requirement, the MLA said.
Highlighting about the facilities at the MOT, Dr Rhütso said through the fund, they bought some XUV vehicles so that they can go to all the terrain in the monsoon season.
“We have all the blood test, ultrasound, x-ray, even to the extent of endoscopy both for keyhole surgery and urinary problem where without operation if we can remove the stones, with the facilities.”
“Apart from having cashless card, this very programme is to deliver the services at their doorstep so that their expenditure to and fro is also minimised. Me being an MLA from Kohima, it belongs to all Nagas, beyond the call of duty, through what they can give back to the people is through medical and fulfilling CM's vision for the people,” he pointed out.
The team, although is not without challenges, despite having all the facilities and manpower at its disposal.
Availability of rooms to conduct operation or manpower to look after post operative patient for instance remains a challenge for the mobile team.
“Post surgery, the medical staffs serving in such areas may not be accustomed to surgeries,” the MLA opined.
In this regard, the team has to stay back and see if their patients are stable atleast for 24 hours. “Once they are stable, we can move to another district or area,” he said adding that at present their strategy is to stay back for 24-48 hours to look after post operative patients.
Despite their caravan being fully equipped, the team still requires clean and sterile rooms when it comes to operation.
If the community can give us their panchayat or schools which are clean to set up MOT or nearby CHC or PHC is available then we can utilise such centres.
When asked how the project will be taken forward, Dr Rhütso said although from Meluri district, they will return to their home district and decide where to take the MOT to, he added that it maybe once a month or after 2-3 weeks in rural and town council areas.
“Some districts have facilities with maximum number of well qualified doctors. It will not just be this year but as long as there are funds to be able to manage. We are trying our best to be self sustaining in the project,” he explained.
