With the ensuing lockdown nearing its end, Chakhroma Public Organisation (CPO) has demanded that the State government should strictly follow the directives of World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Health (H&FW) ministry regarding quarantining of incoming travellers and dead body management of COVID-19 patients, if any.
Quoting WHO directive on quarantining incoming traveller, CPO in a press release issued through its president Vichütuolie Mere and general secretary Mhiesisato Vüprü stated that respective district administration, along with the special committees on COVID-19 and NGOs had arranged accommodations for quarantining incoming travellers to Nagaland for 14 days.
However, CPO emphasised that people entering Nagaland should be tracked and identified not only at airport and railway station, but also those coming on foot, personal cars, buses, taxis, etc. Should there be any loophole in taking appropriate measures, the State government would be held entire responsible, CPO stated.
It also urged all industries, institutions, business establishments and offices in Dimapur district to strictly abide by the orders of the government in handling incoming travellers by keeping them under 14-day observation at designated observation centres.
It warned that heads of institutions, village heads and heads of families would be held responsible if they did not report to authorities concerned about incoming people and failed to keep such persons under 14-day quarantine.
Though Nagaland did not have any COVID-19 positive case within its boundary, CPO said that if any case was detected post the lockdown, it should be assumed that the virus had come through the incoming travellers.
It further demanded at least one ambulance for every quarantine centre and qualified medical staff for overall coordination and supervision. CPO also insisted that food items and medical facilities provided at the centres should meet all standard guidelines.
Further calling for strict compliance with guideline of WHO (“Infection Prevention and Control for Safe Management of a Dead body in the Context of COVID-19”) and the Union H&FW ministry (“COVID-19: Guidelines on Death Body Management”), CPO demanded that the State government should provide adequate equipment to health workers. It quoted the guidelines, “… the dignity of the dead, his/her culture and religious traditions and their families should be respected and protected…”.
Autopsy should be avoided unless it was for a special reason. But even in such a case, strict adherence to the directives given by the authority should be maintained.
CPO requested the authorities concerned to bring out information in local languages to educate and equip the public with the guidelines on dead body management of COVID-19 patients. It would be easier to fight the virus when people were aware of the dos and don’ts, it added.
In spite of financial difficulties, CPO said the citizens expected the government to honestly deliver them justice, regardless of their colour, sex and race in these trying times, it added. Should there be any shortage of funds, CPO suggested that the State government should be honest in presenting the proposed budget in public domain and invite donation from the people to fight the pandemic.
It said that deducting salaries of government employees without taking their consent was not fair, and termed putting on hold dearness allowance and dearness relief to employees and pensioners as denial of rights, adding COVID-19 Cess was also an unknown concept. It appealed to the government to reconsider its decision for the welfare of citizens and employees.