Kohima, August 25 (MExN): The Minister in charge of COVID 19, Peren district Temjen Imna Along, today said that while concerns mentioned by the civil society organisations (CSOs) are understandable, some of them are “blown out of proportion and are factually incorrect.”
The minister was responding to the demand by the Lamhai People Youth Organization (LPYO) and the Rongmei Naga Youth Organization (RNYO), Peren on August 23 for a change in the minister in charge for Peren district alleging, among others, that the district has seen a “down-trend” in its “social scenario.”
Clarifying his stand in a rejoinder, the minister said that it is “unreasonable to pin the blame” him for “sending of a positive person along with the other 16 negative returnees to Peren district.”
The Department of Health & Family Welfare had earlier issued a clarification stating how two persons, one positive and one negative for COVID 19, with the same name got mixed up, he said.
“I need not clarify further but sincerely wish that insinuations and aspersions are not cast on any particular person as it was not easy to distinguish between the two returnees having same name, same gender, and from the same district,” he said.
Imna Along, who is also the Minister of Higher & Technical Education & Tribal Affairs Nagaland, also informed that even though he could not travel to Peren district on a daily basis, he visited Tening and Jalukie Community Health Centres April 9 and inspected the centres.
During a visit to the district again on May 21, he said he had a coordination meeting with TR Zeliang, Leader of Opposition, and Advisor Namri Nchang ,Peren DTF, department officers, civil societies and church organisations of Peren district, and initiated upgradation of Tening Health Centre and also Peren District Hospital during another visit to Peren on May 30.
“In the midst of all this, I personally took up the matter with H&FW Pangnyu Phom and ensured that ventilators, TrueNat machines, generator, ambulance etc are provided to the District Hospital Peren besides cash contribution from my personal side,” he maintained.
He further asserted that he never promised for upgrading Jalukie CHC to a 100-bedded COVID Hospital. “Nevertheless, the repairing and renovation of an old structure at Tening Primary Health Centre has already been initiated,” he added.
He further noted that during those visits, he expressed his concerns and encouraged the frontline workers to continue their humanitarian works and sought the support of the people .
Moreover, the minister said that despite the ongoing pandemic, he had to travel outside the State on pressing matters which could not be avoided and hence travelled to New Delhi on July 12, and returned to Kohima on August 12.
“Even though I was away from the State for a month, I was in touch with the Advisor Namri Nchang , who is also the Co in charge of COVID 19 for Peren District, and taking regular updates about the situation in the district,” he said.
“I hope to work hard and endeavor to do even better in my given capacity towards the people of Peren district; as well as the State and the Nation, to ensure a COVID free society,” he added.
