Poor health facility worry doctors

Expressing concern over poor state of health facilities in Nagaland, a visiting doctor from Mumbai, Dr. Satya Agarwala, FRCP and a Cardio Specialist, has said that he had diagnosed a 15-year-old child with diabetes during the ongoing medical camp at NHAK, Kohima.

“Although diabetes is usually a genetic problem, this particular case is not genetic and we have to find out the cause, but due to lack of facilities, I have refereed the patient to Guwahati or Shillong”, he informed.

Speaking to DIPR on the last day of medical camp at NHAK on May 13, Dr. Agarwala also informed that out of about 900 patients examined 30% were found to be having cardiac disorders and attributed drinking and smoking as the cause of it. “The worst part is that people chew gutkha”, he lamented.

He opined that not enough preventive measures awareness are taken in Nagaland and said lots could be done by creating awareness among people. 

Dr. Agarwala also suggested organizing programmes comprising of both preventive and curative measures. Under preventive measures, awareness against drinking alcohol, smoking, taking gutkha and proper cooking of food should be focused while more facilities in hospitals should be provided as a curative measure.

Stating that X-ray, ECG, EEG, MRI were the very basic facilities in hospitals, he expressed surprise that even X-ray machines were not available at places like Jalukie.

Dr. Agarwala also informed that he has referred four patients outside the state one of which was stated to be serious with a huge infusion around the heart, most commonly caused by TB.

Lauding the local doctors, he described them as highly educated and well-informed people yet cited lack of infrastructures as the main bottle-neck for proper health care delivery. 

“We can come periodically and arrange trainings for local doctors to upgrade their skills but cannot run the show from Mumbai”, he added.

Dr. Lalita Palep (General Physician) suggested that more awareness needs to be created on vaccination, family planning and food intake. She observed that children in the rural areas are under nourished; under-weight and most mothers are found to be suffering from TB, anemic and lack cleanliness.

Dr. Lalita said during the medical camp held at Jalukie, communication problem was faced and felt the need for mass education of the farming community on health care issues. She suggested that more social workers with medical background and interns go house to house and explain health care measures required for children. She viewed the scenario of Kohima as a different picture and informed that most of the babies and mothers examined were healthy.