Several hundred people on Tuesday staged a protest rally to express their resentment against the district administration and medical personnel for releasing the 96 Haryana returnees on June 23 without conducting the second test.
The demonstrators raised slogans while some were see with placards that read: “ERROR 404 Doctor, Administration not found in Peren”, “Absconding from duty is not sincere apology”, “Govt meet the demand of ZSUN” etc.” Later, the protestors submitted a representation to the chief minister through the DC Peren.
Reiterating the ultimatum of Zeliangrong Students’ Union Nagaland (ZSUN) seeking immediate action against two doctors that it holds responsible for spread of COVID-19 in Peren, three organisations have now also sought replacement of the district’s deputy commissioner (DC). In the memorandum to chief minister Neiphiu Rio, Dithuibo Niumai, Henkhogen and R John, presidents of ZSUN, Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) and Zeme Youth Organisation Nagaland (ZYON) respectively, alleged that two doctors had released 96 returnees from Haryana from facility quarantine centres and allowed them to go to their respective villages without any compulsory retest as mandated by protocol of contact tracing around 10.30 p.m. of June 23.
According to them, this had put Peren district at a precarious position and risk of community transmission of COVID19.
But instead of being reprimanded for their actions, the organisations said they were surprised to learn that they had been transferred and posted at the State Capital.
Asserting that this was unacceptable and an insult to “our people”, the three organisations demanded immediate exemplary actions against the two doctors for their “wilful negligence and autocratic style of functioning” that tantamount to crime against humanity.
Pointing out that the post of chief medical officer (CMO) had been lying vacant despite request for a full-fledged CMO, the memorandum observed that the former CMO was promoted as additional director and then entrusted to take charge as CMO again.
Therefore, the three organisations demanded a full-fledged at the earliest to fill the leadership void in the health department in the district.
Further, KSO, ZSUN and ZYON also demand that the incumbent DC of Peren be replaced by someone more competent to shoulder the responsibilities of this magnitude at this hour, which was the district’s pressing need. They alleged that due to the inefficiency of the administrative head, the district had not been able to effectively handle the pandemic.
Will defend doctors, asserts NIDA
Correspondent
KOHIMA: Against the backdrop of the Joint Action Committee’s (JAC) demand to penalise two doctors over the June 23 fiasco in Peren, Nagaland In-service Doctors’ Association (NIDA) has asserted it will defend the two doctors since they were only following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Speaking to Nagaland Post here Tuesday, NIDA president Dr Ritu Thurr said that since day one, doctors and health workers have been discharging their duties with sincerity in the service of humanity by following the SOP.
Dr. Thurr termed the June 23 Peren incident as unfortunate when 96 returnees were sent from Dimapur to Peren on completion of their 14 days in facility quarantine.
He said all returnees, after having tested negative and with approval of chief secretary, were sent to their respective districts. Dr. Thurr said the returnees had to wait for another 14 days in facility quarantine in Peren as per the SOP. He said if a patient was asymptomatic and had tested negative, it was a fit case to be discharged for home quarantine.
He said that by following the Standard Operating Procedure, frontline workers and health officials did not commit any mistake or violated the SOP. He regretted that despite this there was “mistrust” between the community and the department.
Dr. Thurr expressed the hope that good sense would prevail and the community members join the ongoing battle against COVID-19 on a war footing by assisting the health & family welfare (H&FW) department.
Dr. Thurr said the Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) department had directed the doctors to report to the directorate and provide their statements and after doing so, these were submitted to the department and the chief secretary.
On the allegations against the two, Dr. Thurr said if the community did not trust the doctors or if the State government did not take immediate “appropriate action”, then NIDA would initiate its own action.
He also claimed that there were many documentary evidences to prove that the returnees from other parts of the country did not maintain discipline at quarantine facilities, did not provide correct personal identities and did not follow the standard precautions, all of which created havoc in all quarantine centres.
It may be recalled that the JAC-COVID Peren district had alleged that inefficiency on the part of the State government and its machinery at the district level had given rise to COVID positive cases.
Govt rushes teams to tackle COVID-19 crisis in Peren dist
State Health minister, S. Pangnyu Phom Tuesday said that the state government as well as the Health department was extremely concerned over the rise in COVID positive cases in Peren district.
In an effort to contain the crisis, he said the department has deputed three permanent doctors, five senior doctors along with six laboratory technicians and six DEOs to provide technical support to Team Peren.
Meanwhile, principal secretary, home, Abihjit Sinha also informed that a team has been deputed to hold consultations and deliberations with the civil society organizations (CSOs) that have submitted representations and resolve all such issues. The team will be led by Health secretary Kesonyu Yhome; OSD Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority, Johnny Ruangmei and Health department joint director, Dr. Kika Longkumer.
