'Duty of state Govt to provide good health care to each citizen' : NPF

Kohima, April 16 2020

As the saying goes, ‘the true test of any government is how well its leaders function in a crisis’. But here, we are quite startled by the kind of reaction of state government to recent criticism from Opposition party as well as civil societies and health workers, which was taken as personal attack and losing face, through its mouthpiece NDPP.

They must first know that people were dissatisfied and protested not anything but their callous like attitude, “Chill out people, we are handling it.” We are all concerned of the fear of citizens who are vulnerable to Covid-19, the biggest threat the world has ever faced in all decades.

The NDPP has accused the Opposition party of politicizing the pandemic while singing all praises for the government no matter what shortcoming the Government have.

NPF although, being in opposition not consulted by the Government have been extending support and cooperation to fight the present pandemic and have been helping in a very humble way to help the poor and needy and in the event of any failure in talking the pandemic, the present Government will be accountable.

We all are aware that the Governor of the State has once again step in to take control of the present situation itself has proven without any reasonable doubt the PDA Government is unable to tackle the situation.

The Chief Minister and the Health Minister should have been in the picture and played major role at this time of crisis. This is because, public health and sanitation; hospitals and dispensaries is a State Subject.

See how our counterpart Assam Government is responding to the present pandemic by providing all necessary requirements and even importing some medical kits from outside the country without depending on the Centre. Whereas, Nagaland Government is receiving huge relief fund specifically to tackle the Covid 19 but is miserably failing.

The Covid-19 is an infectious disease and it is well within the state list and therefore it is the duty of the state Government to provide good health care to each citizen even without the assistance of the Central Government.

Taking all these into account, the NPF reiterate its contention that the Honble Minister for H & FW Mr. Pangnyu Phom must step down on moral ground since he has failed miserably to tackle /handle the present Coronavirus pandemic assignment in the state as Minister in-charge. The NPF also reiterate its contention that Honble CM Mr. Neiphiu Rio should gracefully pave way for an alternative arrangement if he feels that he is unable to tackle the situation.

We are again made to understand that there had been complaints popping up from nurses and emergency ambulance drivers engaged for Covid-19 duty, until matters were hushed-up or gag order issued.

In a letter to MS, Covid Hospital Dimapur, the nursing personnel appealed for PPE without which they would not attend the virus suspected patients. As per media quoting the authority, “It is a small matter and it has been resolved.” Nurses were also not authorized to speak as per state government’s ‘gag order’ issued yesterday.

One wonders how the matter could be small when it is a matter of life and death for nurses and every other frontline workers. And, is ‘gag order’ a right act in a democratic form of society where grievances are not suppressed?

How would the state government respond to the protest of emergency ambulance drivers at City Tower that went viral yesterday? They were asking for basic protective masks, gloves, gowns, health insurance, food and lodging. They complained of inferior quality gowns which were provided to them and told to wash and re-use.

We are also appalled to learn that salary of various categories of officers and staff under the establishment of CMO Dimapur has been deducted for Office Welfare Fund Maintenance. One wonders whether such deduction of salary is wise to do in such trying time when health workers are risking their lives fighting against the virus.

The government must accept the fact that continued remonstrations surfacing every now and then from its own healthcare personnel is a sheer manifestation of the government not doing enough while time is ticking for possible virus explosion.

The NPF would like to see the government working over-time in the specific areas of health sector;

1. Quality Laboratory: The quality laboratory should be immediately install and has to be certified and maintain standard operating procedures. There has to be trained technicians specialized for the sophisticated COVID-19 Test.

If these are not followed the testing will give wrong results and create more confusion. The state labs if install should properly coordinate with any reputed national institute for confirmatory test.

2. Ensure sufficient supply of certified PPE kits to every part of the state specifically for fighting against the Covid 19 (and not for prevention of other disease like HIV/AIDS & H1N1).

3. Ensure availability of all kinds of medicines in all over the state

4. Zion Hospital cannot be lockdown like that. Sanitise it and declare as Safe Zone within 24 hours and let the needy people avail medical aid from the Hospital.

5. Finally, the state government must ensure the availability of essential commodities especially in far-flung villages and check the price rise of the essential commodities.

Issued by:
Press Bureau
Naga People’s Front,
Central Headquarters,
Kohima: Nagaland.