Nagaland State preparedness on COVID-19 reviewed
Home Commissioner, Abhijit Sinha addressing the meeting held in Kohima on March 18. (DIPR Photo)
• Screening in Dimapur Railway Station and all entry points
• More ventilators and PPE procured
Dimapur, March 18 (MExN): The state’s preparedness to tackle Covid-19 was reviewed by the Special Action Group (SAG) under the chairmanship of Home Commissioner, Abhijit Sinha on Wednesday.
According to updates provided by the DIPR, Principal Director, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Vizolie Suokhrie briefed the meeting on the Department’s activities and co-ordination with the various line departments. He confirmed that training of the State Police Forces has been initiated and will be ready to start the screening process at the earliest. He also confirmed that the Department has procured more Ventilators and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) including N-95 masks and scanners to meet the requirements of the State.
The Home Commissioner directed the concerned departments to collect information like contact details, address and travel history of all passengers arriving at Dimapur Airport in order to monitor them constantly. He stated that altogether 11 road entry points into the State had been identified and the concerned Deputy Commissioners have been directed to start the screening process at the earliest. Besides screening, he directed the forces to collect information details of all persons entering the State to enable the monitoring process.
He confirmed that the Dimapur Task Force in coordination with the Railway Authorities have made a single exit point and barricaded all other exit points at the Dimapur Railway Station to enable screening of all the arriving passengers.
He also directed all the DCs to send directives to all the Village Councils, ward authorities and Tribal Hohos to report entry of any person from outside since March 1. The Home Commissioner also disclosed that all 49 foreign tourists who had entered Nagaland are being monitored by the concerned authorities.
The Rural Livelihood Mission under the Department of Rural Development informed the SAG that awareness information in all local languages about Covid-19 would be disseminated by the Mission in coordination with the Department of H&FW to ensure reach to all rural and remote areas of the State. The State Disaster Management Authority would also be releasing advisories and information capsules on Covid-19 through advertisements in the local print media.
Directives for persons entering Nagaland
All persons including students who have entered Nagaland since March 1 or will be entering into the State have been directed to contact Covid-19 helpline no: 7005435243, 9856071745, 7005539653 and Toll Free no: 1070 or Email: nlssu.idsp@nic.in, of the Health & Family Welfare Department for guidance and getting himself/herself screened.
Those arriving at night, have been directed to contact the emergency room, District Hospital, if they are ill while others have been instructed to call the control room the next day.
The civil societies, ward authorities of the town and villages council have been requested to monitor and urge such persons to adhere to this advisory in their respective jurisdictions and to keep in touch with the district administration and Health Department in this regard.
Emergency meeting on March 19
Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha has convened an emergency meeting at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat, Kohima, with all faith based organizations on March 19, 10:30 am onwards.
“Due to time constraint official letter could not be sent out to all the organizations therefore, this news item should be treated as an official invitation for all,” the DIPR informed. It further requested all faith based organizations in Kohima town to attend the meeting positively.
