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Ginger farmers packing their harvest in a field in Tuensang.
Tuensang, March 10 (MExN): As part of the livelihood initiative, Kisan Network and Eleutheros Christian Society (ECS), Tuensang have been working hand in hand consecutively for the past three years. Within this short span of time, every idea and analysis has been put into action.
Ginger farming
Remarkably, the production of ginger has shot up as comparatively as in the year 2016-17 over all quantity of ginger was just 190 MT tonnes.
Whereas, in the current year an estimated quantity of 230MT tonnes of ginger was harvested from the targeted project areas under Mission Organic Value Chain Development (MOVCD) from villages such as Hakchang, Maksha, Sangsangyu, Saoshou, Momching, Sanghen, Kümpüng and Longtang.
Langpong from Hakchang village, a farmer by profession stated, “Initially, life was difficult for the village community and particularly for my family to sell our products like vegetables and spices like ginger. It was just recently with the intervention of ECS and Kisan Network I was able to sell my ginger and in return it benefitted me a lot. As I am now able to pay my children’s school fees and meet other domestic requirements.”
Basically farmers are now well versed with ginger farming and the benefit they avail through this. Not only that they get to sell their product but even the Agriculture Department & Horticulture Department Government of Nagaland has been very supportive in this mission through distribution of Knapsack Sprayer and Trico-derma to the beneficiaries.
Surgery Camp
The annual surgery camp at Longpang PHC Tuensang, for the year 2020 was carried out over a period of three weeks in the month of February and witnessed yet another success in terms of the number of cases taken up and discharged success.
The camp has been a blessing to many who couldn’t afford the procedure elsewhere due to financial constraints.
Apart from the surgeries the camp also included OPD services which were availed by a large number of patients.
The PHC is equipped with a fully automated biochemical analyzer and CBC analyzer (to carry out blood tests) as well as ultrasound and x-ray machine.
This year the camp saw diversity in the patient party participating in the camp. Though the PHC is located in a Chang region, majority of patients were from non Chang region which was encouraging as the idea of health having no boundaries was appreciated.
Various surgeries were performed from as minor as abscess drainage to as major as thyroid excision as well as kidney stone.
More than 100 surgeries were performed which included 64 major ones.
It is worth mentioning that none of the cases had any post op complications.
The camps success can be attributed to Dr Laji and his wife Dr Shiela who come all the way from Manali in Himachal Pradesh and provide their invaluable service for the needy and sick. Going above and beyond the call of duty is what truly describes them the best.
The camp has been a true blessing to so many patients who couldn’t afford treatment elsewhere with many patients coming from Dimapur where the expenses were a factor for not having the needed procedure performed.
Referred patients from Noklak and Tobu were assessed and treated promptly and discharged in good health.
“We are really glad to ECS for organizing such camps in identifying the need of such service and being able to execute them for the benefit of the people who truly require help,” stated Dr Tova.
It is also worth mentioning the involvement of the local churches around the PHC who have made the visit of different tribes welcomed and therefore bridge the gap of differences which was a major factor for patients avoiding treatment earlier.
However, there is still a need for more camps in the surrounding districts of Mon and Kiphire and it boils down to specialists giving time and sacrifice for the needy to bridge the health gap that is very evident in the areas mentioned.
