Longleng | February 23 : Riding high on the accolades received for good performance, the Nagaland Health & Family Welfare department certainly deserves its moment of glory. Over the years, the state’s healthcare sector has improved considerably. It has been rated as one of the best performing states in the country. The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has further contributed to improving rural healthcare. Yet, there are still several pockets in the state that are not progressing as well as the others. Longleng for instance, is still crying for better healthcare services.
Longleng hospital was upgraded from a primary health centre to the district hospital in 2006. It is located on a sparse piece of land and is the smallest district hospital in the state. With only 17 beds; no pediatric ward, intensive care unit, x-ray machine, ultra sound machine and water supply, the hospital is loaded with problems. Cramped in one corner of the town, the road leading to the hospital is in terrible condition and potentially endangers the health of critically ill patients.
The hospital is facing inadequate healthcare experts. There are technically four doctors posted there which include one general practitioner, one anesthetic, the Medical Superintendent (MS) and the Chief Medical Officer (CMO). But sources revealed that the hospital usually copes with only one doctor. When this Reporter visited the hospital, there was only one doctor and two nurses from NRHM on duty. The CMO and MS were both “out of station” and the other doctors were also said to be “on leave.”
All delivery cases are handled by the nurses. There are seven nurses - four regular and three from the NRHM. In the absence of a gynecologist/obstetrician, cesarean section during and other critical cases are referred to other nearby district hospitals in Mokokchung and Tuensang, which are atleast three hours away.
Interestingly, there are three dentists in the hospital. The hospital is said to be in dire need of a gynecologist.
Furthermore, no proper infrastructure is in place. There is no pediatric ward and children are kept with adults. The isolation ward is also occupied in cases of emergency and overflow of in-house patients. Added to water shortage and constant power cuts, the hospital doesn’t own a back up generator. Further, patients have to travel to Mokokchung or Tuensang to get their x-ray done.
Like in most parts of the state, nurses and doctors are living in rented places. There is no government quarters allotted for the medical staffs. The CMO’s office building is currently in progress but there is very little land to expand the hospital further. Landownership and encroachment are said to be the issues confronting the department.
The healthcare sector in Nagaland is improving but the government cannot bask in the glory of a few success stories. Unless the government shows responsibility towards to all areas alike, stories like these will continue to emerge from various corners of the state.
Longleng hospital was upgraded from a primary health centre to the district hospital in 2006. It is located on a sparse piece of land and is the smallest district hospital in the state. With only 17 beds; no pediatric ward, intensive care unit, x-ray machine, ultra sound machine and water supply, the hospital is loaded with problems. Cramped in one corner of the town, the road leading to the hospital is in terrible condition and potentially endangers the health of critically ill patients.
The hospital is facing inadequate healthcare experts. There are technically four doctors posted there which include one general practitioner, one anesthetic, the Medical Superintendent (MS) and the Chief Medical Officer (CMO). But sources revealed that the hospital usually copes with only one doctor. When this Reporter visited the hospital, there was only one doctor and two nurses from NRHM on duty. The CMO and MS were both “out of station” and the other doctors were also said to be “on leave.”
All delivery cases are handled by the nurses. There are seven nurses - four regular and three from the NRHM. In the absence of a gynecologist/obstetrician, cesarean section during and other critical cases are referred to other nearby district hospitals in Mokokchung and Tuensang, which are atleast three hours away.
Interestingly, there are three dentists in the hospital. The hospital is said to be in dire need of a gynecologist.
Furthermore, no proper infrastructure is in place. There is no pediatric ward and children are kept with adults. The isolation ward is also occupied in cases of emergency and overflow of in-house patients. Added to water shortage and constant power cuts, the hospital doesn’t own a back up generator. Further, patients have to travel to Mokokchung or Tuensang to get their x-ray done.
Like in most parts of the state, nurses and doctors are living in rented places. There is no government quarters allotted for the medical staffs. The CMO’s office building is currently in progress but there is very little land to expand the hospital further. Landownership and encroachment are said to be the issues confronting the department.
The healthcare sector in Nagaland is improving but the government cannot bask in the glory of a few success stories. Unless the government shows responsibility towards to all areas alike, stories like these will continue to emerge from various corners of the state.
