Dimapur accounts 61% of COVID positive in Nagaland
Dimapur, 17th May 2021 (DRPO): Revealing that Dimapur district alone accounts for 61% of Covid positive cases in Nagaland, Nodal officer Dimapur for Covid related activities, Y. Kikheto Sema IAS, noted that that there is a need to prepared for the worst.
Speaking to DIPR, Sema expressed concern for urgent need of beds and oxygen as all the available facilities in both Government and private hospitals has run out of the same. Reacting to the urgent need of the hour, Team Dimapur led by Y. Kikheto Sema IAS and Commissioner of Police, Dimapur Rothihu Tetseo visited Olive Hospital, Dimapur on 16th May 2021, and met the Director Ikheto Sema and lauded the hospital management for hoisting all non Covid patients where all the 70 beds are reported to be full. However, due to the urgent need of beds for Covid patients, Sema requested the Director of Olive Hospital for starting make shift camp even at the backyard of the hospital with at least 30 beds to be activated by next week. For this, he directed the district administration to request the Indian Army for setting up the make shift camp at Olive hospital similar to that at Eden Hospital.
The team also visited Nikos Hospital and during interaction with President of Private Doctors Association Dimapur, Dr Vickto Wotsa, Sema appreciated the contributions rendered by the private doctors even during the 1st wave of the pandemic. Sema informed that Dr. Vickto was also getting ready for providing Covid beds despite space constraints and that 15 Covid beds would be activated by 17th May.
It may be noted that within four days (wef 13th May) Team Dimapur with the cooperation of Hospitals has created about 58 Covid beds which included 28 at Referral in addition to the earlier 76 beds, 10 beds activated at Zion hospital yesterday, 10 beds at Faith in addition to the earlier 41 beds and 10 at Eden Hospital. Tomorrow 17th May, it is expected to create another 45 Covid beds (30 make shift tent at Eden and 15 at Nikos). Kikheto has asked Police to get 30 Covid beds ready at Police Referral Hospital, Chumukedima by the following week.
Noting on the difficulty for meeting the demands of bed and oxygen requirements despite cooperation from all the Hospitals at Dimapur, Kikheto urged/ appealed to the people who are keeping oxygen in their houses for emergency, to give on loan and to save lives instead of keeping it idle.
Train coaches kept as reserved for Covid Care Center
Nodal Officer Dimapur for Covid related activities Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS, ADC Dimapur, Atokhe Aye, Deputy CMO, Dr. Antony visited Railway station Dimapur and had a meeting with the Railway authority including the Railway Medical Services members, on 17th May 2021.
The team after inspection concluded that the train coaches were not feasible to be used as Covid Hospital owing to numerous practical and logistical difficulties. On earlier occasions also, the District Task Force had visited the Railway station and noted that the coaches were not viable to be used as Covid hospital.
Therefore, as decided earlier by the DTF, Team Dimapur decided to keep the coaches reserved for Covid Care Center and would be utilised specially for migrant labourers as and when need arises because presently beds are still available at Chumukedima CCC.
The team observed that even if the coaches were to be utilised as CCC, only 80 patients (not 160) could be accommodated since the distance was against SOP. As far as oxygen is concerned, the ones installed at the coaches are small in size but Sema added that there is close coordination between Dimapur medical team and additional CMO Railway Medical Services from time to time and utilising whenever necessary.
As per Railway authority, Lumding and Tripura also have Covid coaches but are also keeping the facility as reserve till date, to be used as and when need arises.
