MLA Nemcha reviews Covid situation in Kangpokpi district
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, July 29 2021:
Kangpokpi AC MLA Nemcha Kipgen on Thursday chaired a review meeting held in the multipurpose hall of DC Office Kangpokpi, so as to streamline the preventive measures being taken up in her assembly constituency for fighting COVID-19 pandemic.
The review meeting was attended by Kangpokpi DC Somorjit Salam, SP Karthik Malladi, CMO Dr Aneng Haokip, SDO (Kangpokpi) Shyam Kumar, SDO (Champhai) James Pani, Kangpokpi Town Committee chairman Lunseh Kipgen, district hospital medical superintendent Dr Paotinlal Haokip and leaders of the seven COVID Task Force teams of Kangpokpi AC.
According to CMO Kangpokpi, there are 57 containment zones in the district as of now, and with 25 new positive cases detected on Thursday, the total number of active cases has reached 244 out of 2437 cumulative cases and 58 deaths.
Chairman and representatives of the seven COVID Task Forces highlighted their various grievances including financial shortage in connection with conducting mass testing and vaccination drives in their respective areas.
They also stressed the need for the presence of SDOs concerned during the mass testing and vaccination programmes and also sought the intervention of the SDOs in initiating advocacy/awareness programmes in consultation with respective village chiefs and ward chairmen of the town.
The CTF also urged the district administration to look into their grievances of financial shortage and clarified on the fund sanctioned for the Task Forces.
Enock Kipgen, secretary IT Road Joint Task Force on COVID-19, said that they appreciated the vaccination drive conducted in Twilang area and reaching out to the remotest villages in the areas, adding that the pandemic is a fight for everyone and they must fearlessly fight together despite various shortages.
He then informed that there is an outbreak of scrub typhoid currently in Twilang area which calls for immediate attention of the authority concerned.
Enock also highlighted that the absence of security forces in the area has become a stumbling block for the task force in its endeavour of conducing mass testing and vaccination drives as some villages even took rigid resolution against taking the Covid-19 vaccine.
KTC chairman Lunseh Kipgen suggested that authority concerned focuses on advocacy/awareness programmes on vaccination to increase the vaccination rate in the district and Kangpokpi AC in particular.
Dr Paotinlal Haokip, while responding to a query, said that a fully vaccinated person does not need to produce a negative result or be retested but in case if any one of his/her family member tests positive then only he/she needs to be tested again.
The doctor pointed out that the achievement of the district so far is only because of help and cooperation of the COVID Task Force teams extended to the medical department, the district administration, etc.
In his address, DC Somorjit Salam said, "I honestly admit that among other CTFs, the seven COVID Task Forces of Kangpokpi AC are the role model in the district as their hard work has really paid off," adding, "I have always been citing the commendable dedication and commitment of CTFs Kangpokpi as an example to other CTFs of the district".
In response to a query about funds and the amount sanctioned for the COVID Task Force, the DC said that fund sanctioned by the government is very meagre that the district administration has been utilising all available resources.
He also highlighted that Kangpokpi being a new district there is manpower shortage as DC Kangpokpi has only 14/15 staffers while SDO Kangpokpi has only 3/4 staffers and SDOs and other departments face similar shortfall of manpower because of which, the role of CTF has become really important during this health crisis.
The DC also said that home isolation is not that effective in some villages and recommended Community Home Isolation Centre to contain the alarming surge of infections in the district.
He then pointed out that the infection has been alarmingly spreading in rural areas as COVID appropriate behaviour is not being followed while stating that the situation merits strict adherence to the safety protocols.
MLA Nemcha Kipgen, while taking stock of the situation, appreciated all the COVID Task Force teams for their dedication and exhorted them to revitalize their energy in the service of humanity.
She said that they almost succeeded in overcoming the dreaded virus, "so let us make more effort dedicatedly to save our people from the killer Coronavirus".
Nemcha asked the CMO to make a 24x7 roster duty routine for doctors and nurses posted at PHC T Waichong and directed the SP Kangpokpi to provide security assistance as and when the situation demands in collaboration with the CTFs and local bodies.
As per instruction of the government and as the head of the Community Home Isolation Centre, the local MLA also constituted the CHIC management committees and entrusted them to identify a qualified nurse for temporary engagement at CHIC Kangpokpi AC.
After the review meeting, Nemcha distributed protective gears to all the COVID Task Forces and in-charge medical officers of PHC Kalapahar and T Waichong, and medical superintendent of District Hospital Kangpokpi.
She also provided financial assistance for fuel to all the seven COVID Task Forces apart from providing the protective gears.
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