`Some of those who voted YES had this to say:
• To give the Nagaland health department the benefit of doubt, it is good to point out the so far Nagaland is still free from swine flu. Of course this has nothing to do with the Nagaland government's efficiency. But still then the credit should go to them. The health department has also improved in reducing the number of days taken for the test to be complete.
• The field doctors and the medical officers in the desk seem to be doing a pretty good job. They have kept the public calm and there have been no instances of panic and though they are working under tremendous strain and shortages of basic requirements to combat swine flu, the field doctors have done a commendable job. The problem lies with the policy makers. It seems that they are unable to give clear directions to the implementing officers and they seem to lack a policy in this regard. For too long the state of the health department has been in shambles and every time there incompetent people that are in policy making positions. Its high time to start giving the implementing officers more support and resources.
• Yes they have given all contact numbers and beds have been arranged for any possible outbreak but keeping a low profile so as not to create panic. Thus far, quite satisfactory. The dept needs to be judged justly not just a garbage can to dump our worries and frustrations on H1N1.
Some of those who voted NO had this to say:
• The first state in India to cut the funds meant for a pregnant women. From Rs. 1400 to Rs. 700. In a short time it will come down to Rs. 70. Somebody please do something.
• What the health departments ought to be doing is monitoring inbound travellers from outside the state. Are they?
• They work out only when it is emergency. • Swine flu or common cold, our state health services cannot provide one single injections free of cost. Why bother of some foreign ailment and not be concern of day to day sickness we face.
• People die of treatable ailments like malaria, typhoid, dysenteries. If only our hospitals can provide some medicines, will our people benefit. Everyone cannot afford private hospitals. One need to treated freely at least in a govt set up. Sadly our Govt is blind to these anomalies in its system.
• There never has been adequacy in health services in our state. We need to realise how short we are in reaching the standards of modern health services. Though we have so many qualified doctors of our own, we lack the infrastructure to compete with other states. In the wake of pandemic, we are left to ponder, how our system is really lagging behind.
• As we all know that Nagaland govt is full of corruption and is very inactive in dwelling with the public affair, how can we believe such government
• What possible measures can we take? This is a far cry from reality. We need to introspect the health situation in the state. The alarming rate of global pandemic shouldn’t be the criteria to check what our health services is upto.
• First see that the Govt can treat malaria and typhoid. Is there even a drug provided by the Govt? For this minor ailment? Swine flu is a distant thing for our health authorities.
• In the wake of global spread of swine flu, Nagaland Govt should come to the reality of underachievers in the health sectors. Why do we need such a pandemic to introspect into our deficiencies?
• We still have no centres to diagnose the flu. For that, matter though, our Govt sectors do not have adequate services in the field of diagnoses since, funds meant for the laboratories are swindle away to our bosses pockets.
• H ah ha ah aha ahaahaha, the Questions makes me laugh. Nagaland Govt and measures? They have nothing to combat a common flu, forget the international ones.
• Nagaland state should firstly bring about changes in its health system.
• The Govt will only take any measures only after somebody in the family of our Health bosses dies of Swine flu. At least they will realise that the money meant for travelling abroad was from some funds meant for public medicines. And thats where the Flu got in.
• The only reason our state Govt is concerned about the Flu is how much will the Delhi people give them? Must be smacking their lips at the prospect of another new scheme and that means more funds. They dont care whether Nagas are going to be infected or not. If at all, they care bout public health they must firstly make sure we are capable of treating the common ailments which we suffer day to day. They cannot provide simple drugs for us, so why wait for something which will never be accomplished?
• Forget about swine flu. Our Govt is the first to implement new law in disbursing the money for a mother delivering in Govt Hosp. The centre provides 1400 Rs. Our state gives 700 Rs only. Where is the other 700 going? Is our health bosses delivering too????
• When u go to our District hospitals, the public had to buy even syringes to get their injections .For that matter, getting a Tetanus shot means buying it from the nearest pharmacy. Where are the funds meant to buy medicines for the poor? When our hospital cannot provide a syringe, what can they do to counter Swine flu? The govt will be happy people dies of this international disease as they will get the chance to ask for grants and foreign aids. What a shame!
• The health service of our state is not in a position to answer any thing to the questions asked by the people. When they have nothing to provide what will they stand for educating the public? They know if the public comes to them, they have nothing to offer.
• Our health minister and health dept must be eagerly waiting for someone to die of Swine flu. At least they can go to Delhi and ask for more money and aids from the Centre.
• This is the time the public should voice out to the Govt to provide better health coverage. Let the hospitals be in a position to provide free medicines so that a poor man is allowed to be treated free of cost.
• First of all, do we even get some free samples of medicines for a common cold? What is our Govt doing to help the poor. The whole medical fraternity is in a mess, right from the minister to the bosses in the Directorates and secretariat. All they know is make bogus schemes and reports and sent it to Delhi.
• If the state Govt cannot provide a single medicine for fever and cold, what would they do to provide those medicines that are hardly manufactured in India itself. First at least try procuring those simple drugs for the poor.• I am sorry to say that the Nagaland health department seems so unsure about what to do. They are so caught up only in inaugurating big events that when such a global crisis comes knocking on their door, they feel it is more appropriate to go to Bali for some event. The policy makers of the health department has failed miserably in taking concrete steps and this swine flu crisis is a serious wake up call for the government. The DAN government must ensure that the have the right people in the health department who have the knowledge and the know how of taking appropriate measures against swine flu. Till today (August 24) the health minister has not said a single word on the swine flu crisis. How then does he expect the people to trust in his leadership. What kind of confidence is he showing to the people. Nothing at all.
• Kudos to our health providers. This kind of pandemic open our eyes as to how much vulnerable we are to even simple "flu".. What our Govt. policies advocates, the plain truth is on the platter for all to see. We are short of even a simple tablet for a Govt cannot give.
• The Govt should look into the health services provided in a whole spectrum. It cannot show its laid back attitude into the whole scenario. The swine flu epidemic should be an eye opener.
• What is our Govt doing for the people? They cannot give the basic services free of cost. Where are the funds meant for free medicines vanishing? Swine flu is just making the state govt jittery of its inadequacy.
• What enough measures? Have they taken any measures for malaria and typhoids?
Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say:
• There is not much public information on Swine Flu other than the information that is being handed out in the newspapers. Some of the local newspapers have done a fantastic job in following up on the Swine Flu pandemic everyday. In fact we are learning more from the newspapers that from the health department. It will be good if the health department can officially spread more awareness on Swine Flu through advertisements in newspapers, posters and hoardings.
• I dont think Nagaland has the technical capability to address the swine flu. Even if they wanted to act, I believe the Nagaland government is rather handicapped, because at best these are people who are not administers in the real sense. They dont have the experience to govern and organize resources and people in crisis such as this. States like Nagaland just exist, nothing more. The leaders are nothing more than public figures, they dont know how to govern and lead the people through crisis. So in this situation who can blame them for their folly. Since it is already an established conclusion that Nagaland just does not have the technique to organize resources against crisis of this magnitude, I am more interested whether the Nagaland government is truly and really concerned for the people.
• The health department is in shambles. The other day I went to the Dimapur Civil hospital. Believe me when I say it did not resemble a hospital at all. It was filthy, no maintenance and the just so disgusting. The people are in miserable condition. The government needs to strictly implement the policy that government doctors should not run their own private clinics or hospital. The hospital is in disarray. I dont imagine that it is ready to tackle something so big like swine flu.
• The state health dept officials might have been doing what they can to the best of its resources and manpower available at the disposal but certainly not so at the expectations at the level of the concerned citizens lie we have. The health infrastructure of our state lacks such modern facilities like diagnostic laboratory, ventilator, body screening and quarantine system in place at all the prime entry points particularly in Dimapur where the people whether essential or non-essential travel inside as well as outside Nagaland keeps descending on and ascending from this commercial hub daily and Kohima as well deserves more attention. One needs to take precautionary measures and spread self-awareness in one’s community along with health dept to contain this very contagious swine flu of global pandemic which we all are vulnerable on a warfooting. If not then just sit fancifully by and let our strong immune system take care of it.
