Z Lohe
Three and half years ago, specifically during July-August, 2018, hell broke loose over the fish supply to Nagaland which was found to be adulterated with preservative chemical called ‘formalin’. The Medical and Health Department, Government of Nagaland, promptly took the right step in scientific detection of the contaminated fish imported to Nagaland mostly from south India. For years together the citizens of Nagaland had consumed the poisonous food item without awareness of the adulteration. There was hue and cry of the public against the harmful fish supply. Accordingly, the State Government banned the supply of fish of such category to Nagaland. The public appreciated the right actions taken by the Health Department. For certain period of time, the fish markets were bereft of imported fishes all across the State of Nagaland. Yet, the ban of the fish supply did not last long. Before the ink of the ban order could dry, the fish supply returned to markets in Nagaland.
Had not the Medical and Health Department of Nagaland lifted the ban, the supply of fish to Nagaland would not have resumed after few months of its ban. None neither questioned the concerned authority at that time as to whether the imported fishes were free from formalin or from any other preservative chemical nor the authority gave the clarification that the imported fishes were free from contamination and thus the import of fish was restored. Has the Medical and Health Department been in the position to vouch for the imported fishes as harmless to human health since then till date?
To my personal experience, fish caught from pond in Dimapur and to be transported it to Kohima, lest ice is used, it used to start rotting within 3 hours. One cannot imagine how fish can remain fresh for days together without preservative agent. Since then there has been no scarcity of fish in the market particularly in Dimapur and Kohima. And it is certain that the imported fishes are always treated with preservative chemical either with the same formalin or other substitute agent. I believe that the nodal authority as Medical and Health Department will not justify that the preservative chemical formalin which was declared harmful to human health in 2018, and if at all the same formalin has been in use till date or any similar alternate preservative agent is being used today, to be edible in 2021.
The zeal of the nodal authority in the middle of 2018 became short live in protecting the health of the general public against the interest of the professional traders of the chemical laced fish in Nagaland as though such initiative was intercepted by THAAD (the American Anti-Ballistic Missile). Nonetheless, the health of the common men and particularly the fish consumers remains as important all the time as much it was so in 2018.
The nodal authority for public health is the Medical and Health Department, Government of Nagaland. The primary responsibility of the nodal authority is not just running the Health Centers but it includes, in the interest of the gullible public, the consistent monitoring of the inedible consumer items that invade the public market. The once in a blue moon memorable initiative of the nodal authority in 2018 never suffices. There is a chance of using the formalin preservative or the alternative chemical for fishes which are being supplied to the people of Nagaland. Even so, does the nodal authority believe that the fishes laced with formalin chemical or its substitute is harmless post lifting the ban? Had there been any clandestine understanding between the very nodal authority and the fish traders at the cost of the public health? There is no question of not using the preservative chemical for the imported fishes from wherever it is being brought to Nagaland. The nodal authority is therefore required to satisfy the public with its official statement on the safety of the food item in question and the actual efficacy of its preservative agents. Indeed, the citizens of Nagaland are not to be treated as guinea pig.
Not only the imported fishes but all the consumer items are supposed to be monitored by the nodal authority for the sake of the health of our people. The Government of Nagaland has to be meticulous and be systematic in monitoring particularly the vulnerable food items.
Had it not been for the common interest, what do I personally gain or loss if the ongoing fish business remains or is disrupted at any point of time in near future. Nevertheless, those traders too must realize that feeding the consumers with adulterated food item just for personal profit is indeed a terrible crime. Should there be many of those people in Nagaland suffering from series of health complications including cancer are because of consuming the imported chemical laced fishes, and the consequences of investments on treatment of those patients failed to prick the conscience of the traders, they are inhumane.
