Health and Family Welfare reviews preparedness on HMPV

Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) department held a state review meeting to take stock of the state’s preparedness on HMPV and other influenza-like illness/SARI and general surveillance of outbreak prone diseases in IDSP conference hall, directorate of H&FW Kohima on Friday.
At the meeting, state nodal officer IDSP presented an overview of the programme readiness and surveillance update of outbreak prone diseases in the state.
Speaking at the meeting, commissioner & secretary Anoop Khinchi urged the district surveillance units to heighten surveillance and be vigilant on clustering of influenza-like illnesses and severe acute respiratory illness (ILI & SARI).
Khinchi informed that all hospitalised SARI cases have to be followed up with testing at the designated laboratory for Nagaland, (ICMR-Dibrugarh).
The review meeting also highlighted on the Pan-India mock drill carried out in 663 public and private health units across the state for preparedness and overall readiness to tackle any public health event. Key challenges and achievements so far were also discussed from all the district during the review meeting.
Others who attended the review meeting included Dr. E Motsuthung Patton (principal director, DoHFW), Dr Akuo Sorhie (mission director, NHM), Dr Mereninla Senlem (state program officer, NHM), district surveillance officers, district epidemiologists, district microbiologist, district data managers, state IDSP team and representative from Development Partner Nishtha Jhpiego.