Officials during the preparedness meeting at Mokokchung DC office on January 17. (Photo Courtesy: Mokokchung CMO)
Mokokchung, January 17 (MExN): The Mokokchung medical and allied departments on Monday conducted a meeting to examine the COVID preparedness in view of the Omicron wave.
According to a press release from the office of the Mokokchung Chief Medical Officer, during the meeting, the district Nodal Officer for COVID Dr Tiasunep Pongener highlighted the status of COVID-19 cases in Nagaland and observed that there is an increase in cases in few districts over the past few days. Dr Pongener, who is also the Joint Director for Department of Health and Family Welfare, observed that the level of preparedness in Mokokchung is satisfactory and suggested that every positive case should be considered as Omicron until proven otherwise.
While stressing on managing the check gates which serve as entry points to the district, Dr Pongener said that the Medical department alone cannot manage due to shortage of human resource. In this connection, he called upon other allied departments like the district administration, police department, etc., to continue to co-ordinate in checking the vaccination cards and testing reports.
He said, two doses of vaccination certificate should be made mandatory for travelers entering or going to other districts and that COVID vaccination coverage should also improve. As per the release, Dr Pongener also said that in order to assist the COVID hospital Mokokchung, the Community Health Centres (CHC) at Mangkolemba and Changtongya would also function as COVID Designated Hospitals during the Omicron wave.
During the meeting which was chaired by Mokokchung ADC Shashank Pr Singh, various aspects of COVID response like involvement of stake holders, private practitioners and private hospitals during, home isolation, testing strategy, medicines, test kits and consumables and Ambulance services were also discussed. It was also deliberated that the district should strengthen and come up with new initiatives for Advocacy Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) in regard to COVID Appropriate Behaviours (CAB), self monitoring, early treatment, vaccination, etc., by using church platforms, miking, radio talk, print media, and social media, among others.
The meeting was attended by Dr Ahu Sekhose, Joint Director, Mokokchung CMO, Deputy CMO, DPO, DVBO and DSO, Superintendent of Police, SDO (C), EAC and IEC personnel, the release stated.
