Naga origin doctor to be honoured by US state: July 19 as ‘Dr. Jonathan Iralu Day’

New Mexico state will observe July 19 (Monday) as “Dr. Jonathan Iralu Day”, to recognise the service he rendered , ever since the pandemic broke out last year. 

Dr Vilasier (Jonathan) Iralu is an American citizen of Naga descent and son of noted scientist late Dr. Vichazelhu Iralu (chairman of the department of microbiology at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine) and late Tefta Zografi Iralu. Dr. Jonathan Iralu is also the grandson of late Dr. Sevilie Iralu of Khonoma village.

Dr. Vilasier is among a team of  seven doctors and nurses in New Mexico City who are being recognised by the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham   at the New Mexico History Museum. Dr. Vilasier graduated from Yale College and obtained medical degree from Harvard Medical School. Dr Vilasier completed Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease training at Harvard. He is currently the Indian Health Service Chief Clinical Consultant for Infectious Diseases, Instructor at Harvard Medical School and also serves as a senior physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital Division of Global Health Equity in Boston, Massachusetts.

The team of health professionals in New Mexico were dubbed as “health care heroes” by US media and besides their recognition, a particular day starting from July 19 all through July 26, 2021 has been attributed to honor them as their day all over New Mexico starting with Dr Iralu’s day on July 19.

New Mexico’s Governor stated that, Dr Iralu had been proactive since outset of the pandemic in taking measures to protect the people of New Mexico, establishing a drive thru COVID testing operation weeks before the first confirmed COVID-19 case in New Mexico and, throughout the pandemic, delivering timely, high-quality COVID-19 patient care to members of New Mexico’s Tribes, Nations, and Pueblos.

Since he could not be interviewed due to requirement of official approval, Dr. Vilasier sent a message to Nagaland Post: “I am grateful for the heroic work being done in Nagaland to treat and prevent COVID-19. I strongly recommend that my fellow Nagas get vaccinated for this infection as soon as possible to stop transmission. We are praying for the Naga people for God’s blessing, safety, and a full recovery.”

Dr. Iralu lives with his wife Tammy, an elementary school teacher, and their four daughters in New Mexico in the Southern United States for the past 27 years.

Rio congratulates

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio also took to twitter to congratulate Dr. Vilasier. “I’m delighted to know the State of New Mexico Exec. Office, Santa Fe, New Mexico has proclaimed July 19, 2021 as ‘Dr. Jonathan Iralu Day’. Dr. Jonathan Vilasier Iralu is a 3rd generation doctor from Khonoma village. He has made the people of Nagaland proud. Congratulations to him,” Rio tweeetd.