Attendees during the inauguration of a Blood Storage Centre at the District Hospital, Mon on August 31.
Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 31
The District Hospital, Mon, finally got a Blood Storage Centre after almost 60 years of existence. With a storage capacity of 50 units, the Centre was inaugurated on August 31 by the Deputy Commissioner of Mon, Ajit Kumar Verma.
According to a press release from the Media Officer, NHM, Mon, the lack of a blood storage/transfusion facility was a major barrier in providing emergency care to the people of the district, a gap glaringly felt during the dengue outbreak in 2023.
The release said that the DC, while inaugurating the Centre, highlighted the challenges faced by the people of Mon in the event of medical cases requiring blood transfusion; either compelled to rush to Dimapur or Dibrugarh in Assam. As the Chairperson of the Hospital Management Committee, he stated that he felt helpless witnessing such situations. He also explained the procedures required for establishing such a facility, the release added. He congratulated the Minister for Health & Family Welfare, P Paiwang Konyak and the Department; Medical Superintendent of DH Mon, Dr T Temsu Ao for taking keen initiative; and others, who contributed towards the establishment of the Blood Storage Centre.
Medical Superintendent (MS), DH Mon, Dr Ao, in his address, called for community ownership of the hospital and the Blood Storage Centre, citing it cannot exist without the support of the public. The release said that he explained the backdrop, description, and strategic plans and corrections/changes that the Hospital Management Committee made to the allotted building in accordance with the standards for establishing a blood storage facility.
While still a storage unit, according to the release, the facility can double up as a blood bank pending the establishment of a full-fledged one. “Our people need access to life-saving blood transfusion, thus we need the cooperation of KU, KNSK, KSU, churches and all other civil groups, and the establishment's staff,” it quoted the MS as stating. He asserted that everyone should make it an obligation to make blood available at the blood storage center. On behalf of the District Health Society, Mon, the release said that Dr Ao thanked the Department led by the H&FW Minister for ensuring the basic infrastructure and equipments.
Mon district is said to require approximately 200 units of blood per month on average.
The District Hospital in Mon was upgraded to a 100-bed hospital in 2013 and in line to become a medical college, but still lacked a blood transfusion centre.
According to the Nagaland H&FW website, Mon district has “significant healthcare infrastructure” with 3 Community Health Centres, 15 Primary Health Centres and 71 Subcentres, in addition to the District Hospital, which serves as a First Referral Unit.
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