Minister Tongpang Ozukum and others addressing press conference in Kohima on July 23. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 23
A weeklong sensitization programme on COVID testing and vaccination for Kohima district under the aegis of District Task Force (DTF) Kohima on COVID-19 culminated today. The campaign began on July 16.
The culmination programme took place here on Friday with leaders and representatives from Kohima municipal area at the DPDB Conference hall.
Addressing a press conference after culmination programme, Minister in-charge of COVID-19 activities in Kohima district Tongpang Ozukum said the DTF undertook six days tour to all areas in the sub divisional level of Kohima district to sensitize and create awareness about testing and vaccination among the people.
“It was a fruitful campaign,” he said adding that the response from the stakeholders was encouraging and massive. We hope to see result in the next two weeks time, he added.
Ozukum informed that Nagaland is way behind when it comes to testing and vaccinations, and the death rate is one of the highest in the region.
He thanked all the elected legislators from Kohima district, Kohima Deputy Commissioner, Chief Medical Officer and medical team and all the apex frontal organization from Kohima district for their constant support and co-operation.
Earlier, addressing the sensitization programme, the minister encouraged the ward leaders to be vigilant and at the same time, asked them to continue to disseminate the right information to the public about adherence to COVID-19 appropriate SOPs and importance of taking vaccine.
He asked the public to come out honestly and go for tests if symptoms of COVID-19 appear in order to ensure their own safety and the community’s as well. He also requested the public and the apex frontal organizations of the district to continue their support and cooperation to the government and DTF towards the fight against the pandemic.
Ozukum further appealed to all right thinking citizens to use their fundamental rights wisely and perform their duties and responsibility towards oneself and others. Stating that Kohima is equipped with the best medical teams and facilities, he challenged the administration and various civil organisations to take advantage of it and put more efforts to contain the virus.
Meanwhile, Nagaland’s Technical Education & Election Advisor Medo Yhokha sought public support and said “It is a collective effort. Together we will overcome.” He also called upon the people to follow COVID 19 appropriate behavior.
Yhokha mentioned that the unlock phases have been initiated not because of the declination of the virus but by sheer necessity. He requested public leaders to share positive messages of testing and vaccination “which can keep us safe against the virus and beyond.”
Kohima Deputy Commissioner and DTF chairperson Gregory Thejawelie said that this sensitization programme was an initiative to underline the importance of conducting more and more tests, to test to desire level, the need to vaccinate the entire population and the importance of COVID 19 appropriate behavior. He said that if need arises, it will take up more tour programme “till we achieve our target.”
“COVID is here and it’s here to live with us,” he said, adding that it is for that reason we have to learn to co-exist. This pandemic has dramatically changed the lives of people and had an unprecedented impact on the healthcare, economic, and financial systems therefore the access to COVID vaccines is critical to ending the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.
Earlier, Kohima Chief Medical Officer Dr Vezokholu Theyo talked on awareness generation.
Asking the people not to spread misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, she said “Insufficient knowledge and contradictory information about the transmission of COVID makes people uncertainty and led them to believe biased and vague information.”
The programme was chaired by Kohima Additional Deputy Commissioner Bhavani N Sri while welcome address was delivered by President of Association of Kohima Municipal Wards Panchayat (AKMWP) Thejao Sekhose. Vote of thanks was proposed by Kohima SDO (C) Sadar R Daniel Angami.
(With inputs from DIPR)
