DIMAPUR, JUNE 8 (MExN): The Konyak Nyupuh Sheko Khong (KNSK) today issued a statement appealing to the Nagaland Government to look into six key areas with regard to COVID-19.
First, it called for proper fund allocation and stated that out of Rs 79.21 Crores of COVID-19 funds, Mon District so far has received Rs 82 only in total.
“The District has 16 functional Quarantine Centres in Mon, and have so far received 545 returnees. One Quarantine Centre is being set up at Tizit and other Sub Divisions are being prepared to receive the returnees,” a press release from the KNSK stated.
It informed that the Konyak Community, spearheaded by Empowered Group Committee Mon, has mandated another 14 days period before being sent for home to reduce community transmission.
Reminding that as per 2011 Census, Mon district has the 3rd largest population in the State, it demanded that funds should be allocated accordingly. It also informed that Mon has one of the highest returnees from Chennai, out of which, 23 have tested positive for COVID-19 in just a few weeks. The KNSK also informed that returnees from Bangaluru have been sent directly without halt at Dimapur.
“There is a huge backlog of swab samples yet to be tested in our state, and more returnees are expected,” it said and urged the government to allocate COVID-19 funds according to population, returnees at risk and intensity of the contagion.
Strengthening medical fraternity
The KNSK informed that the Mon medical fraternity is functioning with doctors and nurses meant for a 50 bedded hospital only, out of which 9 are on leave.
It asked for deployment of 9 doctors in lieu of their leave period while reminding that the Civil Hospital, Mon was upgraded to 100 beds and should be made functional with doctors and nurses as required. It may be mentioned that Mon Civil Hospital was improved with the services of MSF; consequently more patients are covered, hailing from neighboring places like Assam, Arunachal and Myanmar, the KNSK said.
Medical equipments
The organization also called for quality protective gears for sanitation workers, drivers and volunteers who are engaged in service at the quarantine centers.
It meanwhile informed that presently Mon has only one Truenat Machine with limited testing capacity and two ventilators. The KNSK said that the DC has been working tirelessly to arrange enough quarantine centers and other necessities for Mon district despite the shortages.
It therefore called for early intervention without lapse and excuses, or the efforts invested will all be in vain. It meanwhile informed that the Konyak Union (KU) is also in the process of procuring another Truenat Machine; however, with returnees pouring in from all the Red and Orange Zones and owing to large population, the KNSK appealed for more such machines.
An appeal was also made to make BSL 2 lab in Dimapur functional so that no Nagas are deprived of their rightful access to get tested on time and save human lives. The KNSK requested the government to be prepared to set up a BSL 3 lab in Mon district.
Quarantine centre in Dimapur
While appreciating the services of Dimapur quarantine centres and frontliners, the KNSK asked that the “existing status quo be maintained to lightened the burden of Mon district.”
“There are not enough ventilators, ICU beds, isolation wards or man power provided to Mon district to treat even the serious patients of other illness, let alone facilities to combat the contagion. There are also not enough private hospitals and clinics in Mon as in Dimapur and Kohima to treat general sickness which are equally important,” the KNSK pointed out.
It therefore appealed that certain Quarantine Centres be designated to treat the serious patients of Mon district.
The KNSL meanwhile informed that it is taking up the responsibility of preparing food for all the inmates at Quanrantine centres, the essential food items being donated by Empowered Committee Mon, green leaves and firewood supplied by villagers and well wishers.
It assured full cooperation to the government and district administration in combating the challenge, and further asked returnees and patients to be disciplined and hopeful.
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