Health minister says Tuensang incident was unfortunate

BSL-2 lab in Tuensang not related to returnees’ incident; decision taken by the govt. prior to the incident

Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 2 (EMN): While terming the Tuensang incident as ‘really unfortunate’, the minister for Health and Family Welfare, S Pangnyu Phom on Tuesday said that it was the joint responsibility of the department concerned, the district task force war room and the empowered committee set up by the state government to send the returnees to their respective district.

During an interaction with media persons in Kohima, Phom pointed out that the state government had immediately formed a judicial enquiry committee, headed by a judge, to probe the incident.

On being queried about the transfer of the previous principal secretary of the department of Health and Family Welfare, Phom said that the new official had taken charge on Tuesday and that the former was only holding an additional charge.

The minister said that the decision to set up a BSL-2 laboratory at Tuensang was not related to the Tuensang returnees but a decision taken by the government prior to the incident.

He informed that the laboratory initially would be level-2 and they will later decide if it will be necessary to upgrade it to level-3.

Phom said that there is a high demand for TrueNat in all the districts and therefore, the government had decided to procure 20 TrueNat machines.

He informed that the state is immediately receiving five TrueNat machines, adding that Tuensang will be a priority district.

When asked if the government is prepared to meet the challenges if Covid-19 positive cases are detected in other places besides the three districts (Dimapur, Kohima, and Tuensang), Phom said that the ‘government is prepared’.

Mission Director of National Health Mission, Dr. Kevichusa Medikhru also informed that prior to the Covid-19 cases, the department had a shortage of manpower. “With the arrival of Covid-19, our people are wearing out, yet even with that stress, they are carrying out their duties for Covid-19,” he said.

He stated that the department has been challenged not only due to the shortage of manpower but also to carry out even other essential services, not ignoring immunisation, anti-natal check-ups, critical cancer cases and others.

The director expressed his appreciation to the government for creating more posts for medical department, stating that it would help in meeting its acute challenges.

He also informed that the department is addressing and working on the matter of trained nurses in ‘queue system despite issues and challenges’.

Medikhru hoped that the testing of returnees would also be increased with the procurement of TrueNat machines, while maintaining that the government is going for a higher version, which will be able to do 40 tests in a day.

He said the 20 TrueNat machines, if received on time, would be sufficient for the state to conduct tests with the existing facilities.

His response comes after citizens and returnees shared concern for not being conducting pool testing. “We want all the returnees to be tested,” he said.

He also informed that the state now has enough stock of good quality PPE.