Taking serious note of discrimination and stigmatisation faced by health workers and other frontline workers, Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) principal director (PD) Dr Vizolie Z Suokhrie has clarified that COVID-19 was not a death sentence.
Speaking to newsmen at his office here on Tuesday, he admitted that misconceptions over the virus led to panic in the society, for which the frontline workers were being discriminated.
Dr. Suokhrie said it had come to the notice of H&FW department that colonies and villagers were not allowing the frontline workers to return to their respective homes. He cautioned that if they were discriminated, Nagaland would lose the battle against COVID-19.
He said the virus would stay for a long period of time and everyone would have to adapt and learn to live with it by avoiding confrontation and taking law into one’s hand.
Stressing that social distancing was the key and acknowledging that lockdown had helped in slowing down the spread of infection, the PD however, said a wrong message had gone to the public and there was fear psychosis everywhere now.
He appealed all to follow social distancing avoid physical contact, hand hygiene and proper use of mask in crowded places.
N95 masks meant for health workers: Explaining that N95 masks were meant for health workers who were in direct contact with COVID-19 patients, PD appealed to citizens not to waste the masks by wearing them.
Instead, he insisted that these should be made available for health workers while the public can use surgical masks or three-layer masks.
PD said that 85-90% patients recovered even without medication and even if thousands developed symptoms, they could be cured with medicines and only few people required critical care support.
He said chances of recovery were very high if the patients did not have other ailments or were in 18-45 age-group.
COVID Care Centre: Dr. Suokhrie said the H&FW department had started activating COVID Care Centre (CCC) now because if the current rate continued, hospital beds would have to be reserved for severe cases, while asymptomatic and mild cases could be taken to CCC.
Returnees should give honest identity: H&FW deputy director Dr. Kikameren Longkumer, who was also present, urged the returnees to provide their correct names and other details, warning that providing false names could create more problems for the care givers.
He admitted that lot of misconception led to poor implementation of policies and taking of wrong decisions, while appealing to the returnees to be truthful and assist the frontline workers to help them.
TrueNat sent to districts: Dr. Longkumer said five TrueNat Quattro machines had reached the State till now and had been sent to Tuensang, Phek, Wokha, Zunheboto and Dimapur, while two TrueNat Duo machines procured by Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority were given to Peren and Kiphire.
Mentioning that training on installing and operating the machines were complete, Dr. Longkumer said two TrueNat Uno machines received from the Union H&FW ministry had been installed at Mokokchung and Mon.
He also informed that four TrueNat machines were procured by the legislators of Mon, Mokokchung, Jalukie and Pfutsero, while installation and training were completed at Jalukie community health centre. He said operationalisation of the remaining three TrueNat machines were in process and by June-end, the State would increase testing facilities in all districts.