State government has directed all the government hospitals starting from primary health centres (PHCs) to private hospitals/nursing homes in Nagaland to nominate nodal officer for fire safety with immediate effect and the same should be submitted to the office of the principal director, health and family welfare within February 20, 2021. The nodal officers would be in-charge of fire safety in their health care units.
In a press release, joint director and state nodal officer for fire safety, Dr C. Tetseo stated that the state government would soon come up with standard guidelines, adding that the fire & emergency services department would be the nodal agency for certification.
State nodal officer for fire safety stated that it was necessary, particularly for the hospitals, to adhere to the National building code 2016. Dr. Tetseo said that all public health care facilities like PHCs/CHCs were required to put up basic fire safety measures in place for safety of all. State nodal officer for fire safety informed the deputy chief medical officers, who are also nodal officer fire safety in the district level, to coordinate with all hospitals in their respective districts for implementation of these measures.
The directive comes in view of fire incidents involving several hospitals with loss of lives in recent past and also in compliance with the Supreme court order writ petition (Civil) No 7 of 2020.