Covid-19 situation in Nagaland has improved — Dr. Khimiao

Warns of reverting to lockdown if situation worsens

Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 12 (EMN): The Principal Director of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Neikhrielie Khimiao, on Monday said that the overall Covid-19 scenario — cases, hospital admission and death rate – in the state has improved but didn’t rule out imposition of more restrictions despite initiation of ‘unlock process’ if the people lower their guard.

The official said that containing the spread of the pandemic requires effort of every citizens and that it is beyond the control of the Health department even as it issues advisories and creates awareness.

He said that all stakeholders, be it the administration, law enforcing agencies, NGOs or churches should enforce the policies and guidelines issued by the state government and the central government.

On the high Covid positivity rate in Kohima (10%), Mokokchung (11%) and Wokha (15%), as mentioned in the department’s weekly bulletin, he cited low testing rate as a possible reason, saying that ‘when the rate of testing is so low, few cases reporting can show a very high positivity rate’.

Further, he said that the positivity rate in Kohima and Dimapur could be influenced by people’s transit. Stating that positivity rate might go up if testing rate is increased, he said the department is trying to ramp up the testing at all levels.

The principal director observed that wrong information has led to social stigma and discrimination on persons and families tested positive for the virus, which in turn hampers Covid testing activities. While informing that awareness through Information Education and Communication (IEC) activities have been carried out, he sought the co-operation of the people, administration and law enforcing agencies for boosting the testing rate.

He also warned that if the pandemic situation worsens, the state could revert to lockdown despite the announcement of Unlock 2, wherein the district tasks forces (DTFs) have been empowered to monitor the situation in their respective jurisdictions and implement restrictions based on ground situation.

Medical College

Meanwhile, the official informed that the construction work of Medical College in Kohima is progressing well and expected to complete ‘the sport complex, apartment 200 and 400 buildings, the Dean and Medical Superintendent (MS) complex’ by the middle of 2022.

“The medical college building, boys and girls hostels may be extended by another six months,” he said, adding that the Health department had planned out ways to ensure that work is completed within the said time frame.

Khimiao also informed that the department conducts weekly review meetings and monthly meetings with the contractors of the project.

Informing that the first academic year will commence at the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK), he said “it is not a burden for us to start the academic year while work (construction) should be completed in the stipulated time”.

He also informed that there is a separate director of medical education; presently Dr. Visasieu Kire is working on manpower.

“The director or the dean have to be in place with Three professors; Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry have to be in place for the first year,” the official said.

15 more oxygen plants in offing

Dr. Khimiao also informed that more pressure swing absorption (PSA) oxygen generation plants are in the pipeline besides the existing ones in Dimapur, Kohima, Mokokchung, Wokha, Tuensang, and Phek.

Maintaining that the current oxygen plants were installed in record time and generators to run the plants are already in place as well, he said that department was informed that equipment of all the PSA plants would be dispatched to the state by the end of this month.

“Through PM Cares (Fund), we will be getting an additional 15 PSA oxygen plants,” he revealed.

The principal director of Health department further informed that some re-arrangements could be made in the coming days, wherein plants with lesser oxygen generation capacity could be relocated to some major community health centres (CHCs) and the ones with higher capacity, which the state is receiving through PM Cares, could be installed at district hospitals.

He added that the CHCs that cater to more population could be allotted the oxygen plants under the PM Cares fund.

Meanwhile, the official informed that the state has also received oxygen concentrators from various agencies and banks; some being directly dispatched to the targeted health centres by the sponsors.

He added that the World Bank had aided 600 oxygen concentrators with 10 litre capacity purchased from China and 1200 D Type Oxygen Cylinders 600 B Type Oxygen Cylinders have been distributed to the hospitals and healthcare centres across the state.

Dr. Khimiao went on to say that the state government was prompt enough in responding to the crisis and the Health department was also carrying out the work with a sensitive mind. He added that there is sufficient oxygen supply and no cases of patients being deprived of or dying due to non-availability of oxygen has been reported in the state.