Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 14
The outbreak of Dengue and Conjunctivitis in Nagaland was discussed during zero hour on the last day of the second session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) in Kohima.
MLA Achumbemo Kikon initiated the zero hour discussion under Matters of Urgent Public Importance and urged the department to gear up and pay urgent attention.
He said that Bhandari is one area which is highly affected by dengue as it is located on foothill areas. He urged that prompt action be taken.
He also said that the health sector should be fully prepared for any kind of outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics in the future.
There is a need to increase manpower in the health system and a proper policy is required to tackle such outbreaks, he said.
Responding to MLA Kikon on the floor of the House, Health & Family Welfare minister P. Paiwang Konyak said that during such outbreaks, the department considers it an emergency and fast track necessary arrangements which are carried out in observing certain protocols and mechanisms.
He said that the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare has been proactive in monitoring everything and supplying with whatever was required and is ready for any action to be taken for the service of the citizens.
In Dimapur and Mon, fogging was carried out and the public demanded more.
Paiwang stated that instead of fogging, the Department preferred sanitation and cleanliness drive and requested the public to keep their surroundings dry and clean. This will not allow mosquitoes to breed because even if the adult mosquitoes are killed by fogging, such methods do not kill the larvae of the mosquitoes. He also added that fogging contains chemicals which are harmful to humans and therefore, it is necessary for everyone to take good care of their surroundings. He suggested frequent meetings of District Health Society where DC, CMO and MS of every districts and tribal bodies come together and discuss health issues that arise in their respective districts.
About the present situation of surge in Dengue disease in Mon and Dimapur, he said that the Department is closely monitoring and doing everything possible to help the patients although there is no specific medicine for Dengue. The Minister strongly appealed to all the citizens to keep their surroundings clean and requested the District Administration and District Health Societies to sensitize the public and to ensure mass cleanliness drive in colonies and wards.
Paiwang said that the health workers, administration and citizens needs to come together to fight such outbreaks.
