Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) department has clarified that it has been strictly following the directions and standard operating protocol of the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW) vis-à-vis coronavirus (COVID-19).
This clarification was issued by principal director H&FW Dr Vizolie Z Suokhrie in response allegations raised by Indian Human Rights Council (IHRC) for Nagaland chairman S Richard Humtsoe.
Clarifying to Humtsoe’s allegation regarding preparedness and response of H&FW department to COVID-19 pandemic, H&FW principal director Dr Vizolie Z Suokhrie stated that the department had initiated activities since January 18. And with the evolving situation, measured actions had been taken, he added.
IHRC Nagaland had accused the state government of “total negligence” in combating the Covid-19 pandemic despite and said that till date not even a single test have done.
Suokhrie further clarified that samples of individuals that did not fit the laid down criteria of MOHFW would be rejected by the designated testing laboratories, even if such samples were collected and sent for testing. He cited the example of a sample of an individual sent to Regional Viral Research & Diagnostic Laboratory of Indian Council for Medical Research’s Regional Medical Research Centre at Dibrugarh in Assam that tested negative.
The principal director asserted that cases from Eden Hospital and Zion Hospital did not fit the criteria for collection of samples for testing. He said district surveillance unit of Dimapur was in constant touch with patients of both the hospitals and that both the patients were doing fine.
Referring to IHRC Nagaland claim that there were only 10 beds isolation ward available in Dimapur Civil Hospital, 10 in referral hospital and 10 in military hospital, the statement said the H&FW department had identified the wards in public healthcare facilities and other centres, which were expandable, should the situation demand. He claimed that quarantine facilities too had been identified and were expandable.
He claimed that 12 dedicated ventilators were in place for COVID-19 in addition to the ICU ventilators available across the State.
Mentioning that protection gears, including personal protective equipments (PPE) like N95 masks, triple layer masks and gloves had been procured and distributed, Suokhrie said orders had also been placed for additional procurement. He however pointed out that there was shortage of all materials and equipments all over the country and even globally.
Additionally, he said the department was on the job of carrying out surveillance that included monitoring, observation, contact tracking of both Naga and non-Naga residents of Nagaland nationally and internationally and those who had entered Nagaland from the affected countries since January 18. This screening and surveillance had been expanded to all those entering Nagaland through rail and road entry points.
Stating that the State government was aware that the COVID-19 pandemic was beyond the public health system’s capacity to control despite the involvement of the government’s full machinery, Suokhrie appealed to the public not to spread rumours or panic, but cooperate with the government.
He said the H&FW department would welcome positive criticisms from all corners and requested all concerned to extend all possible help to the State government.
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