Dimapur, August 12 (MExN): Even as the rest of the country is on high alert to check the spread of Influenza-A (H1N1) commonly known as “swine flu,” Nagaland’s chief minister Neiphiu Rio has admitted that the state is not prepared to check the attack. Interacting with media persons on the sidelines of an inauguration at Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima yesterday, Rio said that the health care system in the entire country with such a huge population is very haphazard. And back home, he said ‘we (Nagaland) are not actually prepared to face or check swine flu but we are taking every precautionary measure to stop the virus entering into the state.’
The department of Health & Family Welfare briefed the state Cabinet today on the level of preparedness of the state government in combating H1N1. However, what further action plan or decision on concrete preventive measures the cabinet may have taken, could not be had for public information.
Nonetheless, the department’s briefing report to the cabinet was received here. The Commissioner & Secretary and the officers of the department briefed the Cabinet on August 12 on the level of preparedness of the state government. A presentation of the genesis of H1N1, the dos and don’ts, the mode as to how the virus spreads, among other related matters, was made. The Cabinet was also informed of actions taken by the department of Health & Family Welfare.
The department said that under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Team, four Rapid Response Teams have been set in place and an “action plan” for H1N1 Flu has been prepared. But matter specific to what the “action plan” is, was not mentioned in the brief report.
All the Chief Medical Officers/Medical Surgeons have been instructed for arrangement of isolation wards for H1N1 flu suspected cases. The department said it has been monitoring reports of influenza-like illnesses of the state to the Central Surveillance Unit in Delhi. Also, distribution of a ‘special issue’ of communicable diseases alert on H1N1 has been dispatched to all the district surveillance officers, the department said.
Further, review meetings have been held by the Commissioner & Secretary with directorate officials while sensitization of all district surveillance officers and Rapid Response Team members has been made. Further, distribution of personal protective equipment sets, N95 masks and ‘Tamiflu’ capsules have been dispatched to all the Rapid Response Teams for Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung and “state” the report said.
The department added that “public awareness done through Doordarshan on 11th Aug. 2009.”
The chief minister had also directed the department to have a separate meeting with the chief secretary to better the level of preparedness and to increase the state’s support wherever required, the department said.
