Dr Andrew Ahoto Sema
With the rising concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic going out of control, it has become utmost necessary for everyone in Nagaland to follow certain safe practices and take preventive measures to contain the disease. But are we really prepared for the worse? With a porous border with other North Eastern states and Myanmar, and with thousands of commuters flowing into the State mainly through Dimapur on a daily basis through air, train and road, it becomes all the more important for everyone including the State Government to take adequate measures to fully prepare ourselves against the dreaded disease.
We suggest that the State Government must chalk out elaborate plans to immediately seal all the border areas with Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar and those coming in must be thoroughly screened before they enter the state. People with suspicious cases or with symptoms of COVID-19 must be immediately quarantined and put under isolation and observation. The inflow of people from outside the State should be minutely monitored and controlled not only at Dimapur Airport but rather at those vantage points where the inflow of commuters is very high like at the Dimapur Railway Station, Bus Stations and all the Inter-State Check Gates. All concerned departments should also ensure that public transport and utilities like trains, buses, ATM booths, Shopping Malls, Markets, Banks, etc. should be disinfected and sanitized at all times. The open food vendors and hawkers must be advised to abstain from selling their street food products till the disease subsides. All districts should be put on high alert with provision of isolation wards at all the hospitals.
There should be more adequate information and awareness generation for people of the State through print and social media regarding the pandemic. The state government should also declare a state of emergency whereby not only educational institutions but also places of public gathering must be immediately closed at least for a significant period like other nearby states have done. It is always better to take precaution instead of regretting the loss of valuable lives due to negligence. The State Government should also ensure adequate and preferably free supply of facial masks and hand sanitizers and should monitor the stock piling and retail sale of such emergency medical goods so that there is no shortage and undue harassment of public. All concerned departments must check the random selling of inferior quality, fake/adulterated and second hand (used) facial masks. Regarding face masks, we have to be extra-cautious because one has the tendency to frequently touch or adjust them whereby they may cause more harm instead of protecting us. Also we must regularly change the face masks and dispose-off the used ones in a safe manner by incinerating them instead of just disposing them openly. Additionally, the town committees and municipal councils must also ensure that the medical wastes including used masks are disposed-off properly without causing any bio-medical hazards.
Churches across the state where maximum people gather, especially on Sundays, must be sensitized about the disease and its consequences. The Church leaders must educate their congregation about the pandemic and should avoid huge gatherings as far as possible so that there is no possibility of contamination and transmission. Churches should also join hands with health authorities in fighting against the virus and should help in identification and quarantine of people showing symptoms of the disease. They should also inform the people not to generate undue phobia related to the disease and not to circulate false news to create panic.
Most importantly, the common people must have a general awareness and educate themselves about the disease as ‘an informed mind has no space for fear.’ Sometimes it is wise to avoid certain traditions which can be disastrous for the welfare of our people and society. For instance the habit or tradition of shaking hands is very popular, common and considered as an essential element of socializing with people especially in a modern society like ours. However, in the present context of Coronavirus pandemic, where the virus spreads through surface contamination, droplets and touch, it is felt necessary that our age old traditions of hand-shakes and hugging when we meet people should be replaced with alternative and safer greetings like a simple hello, bowing low or namaste. In fact, the namaste gesture has been highly recommended by WHO Director General, Mr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, as an alternative to handshakes. Many world leaders like Britain’s Prince Charles have ditched the handshake and opted to use that gesture in recent days. Even schools, colleges, churches, offices, etc. across the state must discourage handshakes and instead encourage safer greetings like Japanese Ojigi (bowing) or Indian Namaste. This will decrease the chances of being infected with COVID-19 upto a great extent.
Apart from all these preventive measures, it is always wise that we should religiously follow the guidelines issued by health authorities regarding Coronavirus disease like regular washing of hands, wearing face masks wherever required and avoiding crowded places like markets and cinema theatres till the disease is contained.
