With the lockdown yet to be lifted on May 3, the preventive measures to combat possible outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in Nagaland are being stringently monitored. Legislators in charge of various districts for COVID-19 are visiting their designated areas to ensure that every possible measure is being undertaken to protect the people of Nagaland. Meanwhile, respective district administrations are also conducting meetings and trainings to prepare the public in the eventuality of the virus breaking out.
Phek
Legislator visits PHC Meluri: Minister of Planning & Coordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs, Neiba Kronu visited Primary Health Centre (PHC) Meluri and interacted with the officials on April 25.
Addressing the gathering, he appealed the Pochury people to jointly venture out in fighting against the dreaded virus for the cause of humanity irrespective of party colours.
He called upon the people to adopt work culture and engage in farming activities so as to survive during difficult times without depending on mainland India for essential commodities. Stating that Nagaland was not facing shortage of essential commodities, he urged the people not to panic and asked the administrators to closely monitor the utilisation of commodities in consultation with public leaders. ADC Chubatemjen and his staff, MO Dr. Chukhusie & his team, Pochury Hoho president Chukekhu Nyusou and his colleagues, public leaders were part of the interaction and shared the grievances of the sub-division.
Training on COVID-19 held in Phek: Phek district conducted training for the community, church leaders, youth bodies, and representatives from mother association, Police department and personnel from SDRF on the preparedness of COVID-19 DH, at conference hall, Phek on April 24.
A press release from NHM Phek district media officer Kutolu Nakro stated that, training was to make participants mentally prepared in the eventuality of possible outbreak of COVID-19 in the district. Participants were trained on topics like handling of death bodies, rational use of protective personal equipments (PPE) and mask and quarantine protocols. The participants were also sensitised on the origin and transmission of COVID-19, preventive measures, importance of hand washing & social distancing, cough etiquette etc. Resource persons Dr. Wethselo Tsuhah, Dr. K. Kuotsu and Dr. Lanuakum during their presentations appealed the leaders not to panic or create any issue over any death in their areas as dead bodies do not spread virus. Earlier, CMO Phek Dr. Vibeituonuo Mepfuo called upon the various departments and organization for cooperation in the fight against the pandemic. Training was conducted in two batches where the first batch was attended by colony chairmen, youth bodies, administration & SDRF, while second batch was attended by pastors, DBs and representatives from mother association. Altogether 76 participants attended the training. The same activity will be carried out in all the blocks. Officials from administration, SDPO & representatives from CPO also attended.
Mon
DC Mon issues further directives: Deputy commissioner, Mon Thavaseelan K has issued following directives for public of Mon: All shops selling essential commodities within Mon town shall henceforth remain open for 5 days in a week i-e Monday to Friday. Banks, ATMs and pharmacies shall remain open on all working days; The daily timings will be from 9 a.m to 2 p.m; Only 1 person from a household will be permitted to go out for purchase of essential commodities, medicines and visit Banks /ATMs. He/she should carry the public movement permit in original.
Further, regulations on purchase of essential commodities are revised as follows: Maximum permissible quantity per day will be as, rice 25 kgs per family, dal 2 kgs per family. The permissible maximum quantity for the remaining items shall remain the same as per the previous order. These regulations shall come into effect from Monday the April 27 till further notice. The ban on movement of private vehicles (except those permitted) across the district shall continue to remain in place.
Mobile Application launched: DC Mon, Thavaseelan K also notified that district administration, Mon has launched a Mobile Application ‘NL-SOJOCOVID’. According to DIPR report, the Mobile App will monitor the current, pervious and future movements of people under observation for COVID-19. Additional features include tracking user locations and profiles, vital sign information, where people have last travelled and how they are progressing daily. Communication includes receiving alerts about users’ locations for compliance with local safety guidelines, sending mass messages, email and SMS emergency calls. The application is available in the Google Play Store and citizens can download the app and use directly from their smartphones. It will be deployed in the Apple iOS App store shortly. Principal secretary, Nagaland Ramakrishnan collaborated with Kishore Reddy of Sita Corp, USA for developing and deploying the App.
Mokokchung
Legislators inspect Tsutapela interstate check gate: Minister for Housing and mechanical Tongpang Ozukum and Imnatiba, advisor for Industries & Commerce, Lab & Emp, Skill Dev & Entrepreneurship visited Tsutapela interstate check gate and designate COVID-19 hospitals in Mokokchung on April 24. A press release from PS to minister Tongpang stated that, minister shared the importance of sanitizing vehicles at the check gate and why it should be continued as preventive measures. He also asked all the frontline workers, especially healthcare service personnel to wear protective kits not only for public awareness, but for safety as well. He also informed on some minor loopholes first hand which will be detrimental for the frontline workers and would appraise the concerned authorities. He further appealed to all the villagers living in the border areas to shoulder responsibilities and do their part as the police personnel cannot monitor the entire border belt alone. Earlier, minister inspected the designated quarantine center at Impur and Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital, which is the designated COVID-19 Hospital for Mokokchung district. He was accompanied by DC Mokokchung, SP and Addl SP Mokokchung, CMO and other officials.
ASHAs and AWWs perform home visits in Mokokchung: Frontline workers comprising of ASHAs and Anganwadi workers (AWWs) in Mokokchung district have been performing home visits where they share information on hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, social distancing, high risk group and check on the health status of elderly and people with existing illnesses.
A press release from NRHM Mokokchung DPMU stated that, community awareness through inter personal communication, distribution of flyers, pamphlets and posters are also carried out in their coverage areas. Other activities include line listing of individuals with travel history within last 14 days and in contact with suspected/positive cases, and following up with the individuals advised to follow home quarantine.
Information education and communication (IEC) staff of Mokokchung district in collaboration with the district public relation office (DPRO) is constantly taking measures in keeping the public aware of the prevailing COVID-19 and its preventions. Announcement on do’s and don’ts , social distancing , social stigma, home quarantine in all the villages and wards are carried out. Radio talks, pasting of pamphlets, posters and distribution of flyers etc are performed from time to time as necessary.
Quarantine centres set up in CHC Changtongya: Quarantine centers have been set up in Community Health Center (CHC) Changtongya with the joint efforts of CHC, CTN staffs and SDO (C) Changtongya town. According to DIPR report, GA Rest House for medical staff with 10 beds has been arranged and for general public at Government High School Changtongya ‘B’ with another 10 beds. Meanwhile the authorities have informed that they were well prepared even in the eventuality of increase in quarantine persons.
UPHC Yimyu ward to function 24×7: Chief medical officer (CMO) Mokokchung has informed general public that in view of IMDH being converted to COVID-19 Hospital following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Urban Primary Health Center (UPHC) at Yimyu Ward, Mokokchung will be functioning 24×7. The UPHC will cater to general patients especially for antenatal (ANC) cases and normal deliveries.
Noklak
SHGs sell local produces at Noklak: Self Help Groups (SHGs) of Noklak village under the aegis of Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission (NSRLM) and the initiative taken by Block Mission Management Unit (BMMU), Noklak in collaboration with the administration of Noklak organised selling of vegetables and other local produces at daily market, Noklak town on April 25. According to DIPR report, sales activity has been carried out in view to support and help the farmers during the lockdown on COVID-19 pandemic and also to reach out to the citizens as well. BMMU has also informed that marketing will be held twice in a week (Wednesday & Saturday) by SHGs and village level organizations. One may book the items in advance through phone call/SMS/WhatsApp to 8414834627/6009119166/7005959766. During marketing, precautionary measures has to be maintained like social distancing, wearing of mask, hand wash.
Dimapur
Packaging material handed over to farmers and vendors: Department of Horticulture distributed vegetable and fruit carton boxes to the farmers and vendors at FPO organic daily market, behind Super Market Dimapur on April 24. According to DIPR report, DC Dimapur Anoop Khinchi along with district horticulture officer (DHO) Temsu Longkumer handed over the packaging materials in the presence of FPO members. Meanwhile, DC Dimapur has consented to arrange 2 Tata Mobile vehicles for transporting farm/local produces to the market and also to provide permit for supplying the local produces to different locations.
Kohima
Training for officers under IRS Kohima: A district level training on COVID-19 for all officers detailed under the Incident Response System (IRS) will be imparted by the experts from the Medical department on April 28, 11 a.m at DPDB conference hall, DC Office Complex Kohima. After the training, there will be a table-top exercise for the district Incident Response System at the same venue during which there will be a discussion to conduct the district level mock drill to be held on April 30. DC Kohima Gregory Thejawelie has requested all district IRS officers, emergency support branch officers and legislators’ in-charge for Kohima district to attend the said training and table top exercise.
NHAK to operate OPD only for consultation: Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) shall begin its skeletal OPD only for consultation of all major departments from April 27 between 10 a.m to1 p.m daily, except on government designated holidays till such time COVID-19 positive patients are admitted. A press release from NHAK managing director Thorhusie Katiry however stated that, no patient shall be admitted for any procedure in the hospital. Patients requiring admission are advised to approach the government panelled hospital for further management. Public have also been advised to wear mask when reporting for OPD consultation at NHAK and maintain social distancing.
Peren
PMGKAY launched at Peren district: EAC Peren, Seyievilie Pfukri in the presence of ADS Peren, ward chairmen of Peren town and civil society representatives launched the free ration distribution programme under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) scheme at fair price shop, Peren town on April 25. According to DIPR report, EAC stated that the government of India has launched the scheme for relief during the COVID-19 crisis and under PMGKAY Scheme, Priority Household (PHH) & AAY ration card holders under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) will receive 5 kgs of rice per person per family free of cost for three consecutive months of April, May and June. Meanwhile, in Jalukie town free ration distribution programme under PMGKAY Scheme was also launched by ADC Jalukie, Dr. Tinojongshi Chang.
Childline Peren is open 24×7: Childline Peren is operational 24×7 even during lockdown as it’s an emergency helpline for those children in need. A press release from Childline Peren center coordinator Ibamsile stated that, if anyone sees a child in need of care, protection, nutrition, counselling, abused or missing, forced to work or any child related issues, they may call 1098. Meanwhile, the district administration under DC Peren and ADC Jalukie also donated three sacks of rice and relief materials towards children in need of nutritional support.
Zunheboto
COVID-19 review meeting at Satakha: Minister of Agriculture & Cooperation, Kaito Aye, visited Satakha on April 22 and held a review on preparedness of SDL-Task Force on COVID-19. According to DIPR report, ADC Satakha, EAC Satakha & MO Satakha shared the problems faced and requested for his guidance & intervention. Minister donated a sum of Rs1,00,000/- (one lakh) towards SDL-Task Force Satakha along with following items, hand sanitizer 95 litres, 1500 masks, 4 sets of PPE, and 24 bottles of disinfectant phenyle. Minister further assured that necessary facilities required at the designated quarantine centre will be provided and put in place at the earliest.
Zunheboto district lockdown report: As per directive of district administration that only Monday, Wednesday and Saturday will be opened for specific given time for people to avail various services and to purchase essential commodities, the district on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday saw total lockdown with no unnecessary human and vehicular movements. A press release from COVID-India media reporter Bombo K Yeptho stated that, to keep the total lockdown going police personnel and traffic police were seen on duty, checking vehicles that were passing and keeping an eye everywhere to prevent unnecessary movements in the town. Police and Medical team at the entry points of the district are keeping a check on unnecessary movements of vehicles during the lockdown period and also vehicles travelling from far without the permit issued by the district administration 24×7.
Tuensang
Tuensang DTF meeting on COVID-19: Tuensang District Task Force (DTF) for COVID-19 held a review meeting at DC conference hall on April 25, under the chairmanship of DC, Tuensang, Kumar Ramnikant. According to DIPR report, meeting reviewed the present status of the preparedness in relation to COVID-19 and the return of stranded students/people from Dimapur, Kohima who are to be brought back to district. Detailed screening will be done which will be followed by home quarantine for 14 days. Discussions were also held on the procedure for handling of dead bodies and its disposal in case of any eventually due to COVID-19. In this regard, members agreed to find out an isolated land of plot for burial ground. The meeting also resolved to have a plan of action in case of detection of any case occurs on COVID-19 and also to set up a “district war room” as call and media centre.
CAPF continue to monitor Chessore area: Chessore Area Public Forum (CAPF) has appealed outsiders of Chessore area to produce proper documents and reason to CAPF when necessary to visit so the forum can extend help with concerned authority of COVID-19.
In a press release, CAPF president Y. Kiumukam and general secretary R. Akhum has also asked general public not to panic or forward fake information about the COVID-19 in social media. CAPF added that sale of gutka, tobacco, alcohol, and spitting in public places are strictly prohibited and that wearing face mask was compulsory. CAPF also visited Chessore PHC to check the duties and facilities for COVID-19, while it also held discussion with SDO (C) Chesore about the relief issue and aid provided by the government. Forum also appreciated USLB, medical officer, administration and police of Longkhim town for showing humanity towards the four Yimchunger brothers on April 18. CAPF stated that the four persons were under quarantine, two in Shiponger and one in Chessore village.