DIMAPUR, APRIL 15 (MExN): The National People’s Party (NPP), Nagaland unit has expressed dismay at the lack of the State’s preparedness at tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The first positive case of COVID-19 in Nagaland has opened the Pandora’s Box of utter negligence and lackadaisical attitude of the Nagaland State Government towards the deadly outcomes of the pandemic. It has revealed beyond doubt that our state including the hospitals are totally unprepared for this calamity,” a press release from the party stated.
It said that the State Government “seems to be least bothered about the frontline health workers.” The party questioned why doctors and nurses are being provided with expired and inferior quality PPEs.
“The pictures of mould infected N-95 masks and dilapidated hospital buildings that are circulating in the newspapers and social media speaks volumes about the total disregard of the Nagaland State Government towards the apathy of the frontline health workers which is putting everyone of us at high levels of risk which will lead to more positive cases in days to come,” it said.
It also demanded that the State Government make necessary arrangements for supplying nutritious cooked food by hygienic workers and supply adequately to those on quarantine, patients in the hospitals, frontline health workers, etc. We also demand the State Government to provide incentives to the medical fraternity like some other stategovernments, where the salaries of doctors and nurses have been doubled, the NPP demanded. It further called for appropriate and immediate steps be taken for people of Nagaland who are stranded outside our State due to the lockdown.
“Had the government been more accountable, transparent and not corrupt from before, things would have been smoother and worked well for everyone. Mere distribution of food itemsand advertising the same over social media by the State Government is not going to solve this pandemic but the need of the hour is to be fully equipped with proper medical and protection equipment for all concerned,” it pointed out.
It advised the State Government to take the help and assistance of general public from the NGOs, Villages, Colonies, etc. if at all there is a dearth of man power in handling the situation. “However before engaging such volunteers, they should be properly trained, equipped with PPEs and provided with incentives and proper facilities,” it said.
It meanwhile urged the opposition parties, the civil societies, the tribal hohos, NGOs, etc. to come forward and raise their voice “before the pandemic becomes an all out disaster because of the lack of proper facilities provided by the government despite all the financial grants being sanctioned by the Central Government.”
“We should all shed aside our personal differences and collectively think about the benefit of the people who are suffering at this time. We should not shy away from highlighting the lapses of the government but do constructive criticism for the welfare of all,” it added.
