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Vol XXX No. 189
DIMAPUR, MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020 Pages 12 ` 5.00
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H&FW-NEAN deadlock: crisis deepens
Staff Reporter
Dimapur, Jun 14(NPN): With the National Health Mission Employees Association Nagaland (NEAN), comprising of around 150 doctors from various fields including over 700 nurses across the state on “indefinite cease work” that took effect from Sunday, several district hospitals and quarantine centres across the state manned by NHM employees have been affected. PD/DoHFW: According to sources, the department of Health & Family Welfare (DoHFW) has reacted to the cease work with an order issued by the Principal Director Dr. Vizolie Z. Suokhrie and another letter by the Mission Director NHM Dr. Kevichusa Medikhru on Sunday. In the order, Principal Director DoHFW Sunday, citing the indefinite cease work called by the NHM employees which took effect from June 14, directed all Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) and Medical Superintendents (MS), to ensure that all NHM employees attend to their duties “during this unprecedented COVID19 crisis, failing which nec-
JD (U) opposes ‘clause 3’ of revised SOP for returnees DIMAPUR, JUN 14 (NPN): Janata Dal (United) Nagaland unit has taken serious note of the addendum dated June 7,2020 to the revised Standard Operating Procedure(SOP) issued on June 1,2020 for returnees to Nagaland vis-à-vis reality about the efficiency of the state government. JD(U) through its publicity wing, said it took exception to clause 3 of the addendum to the revised SOP which it said, was an exception only for Nagaland as compared with the world which only undermined the credibility of the medical fraternity. JD(U) said Clause 3 was like seizing power by the state politicians from the hands of medical specialists then handing it to the executive, who have not medical background nor knowledge to tackle any emergency. According to JD(U) Clause 3 was unexpected which even autocratic and dictatorial regimes would not even think of imposing. The hard earned medical degrees with the money spent by the state government on doctors was being thrown to the winds because of this Clause 3, it said.
essary disciplinary action will be initiated.” The order also stated that any employee under NHM- General Nursing & Midwifery (GNM) or Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery (ANM)- who fail to perform their duties from June 15, 2020 will be “forfeited from the queue system/batchwise appointment into the regular post.” The order directed respective district authority to submit by e-mail to the Principal Director DoHFW on June 15, by 1 p.m., the list of employees who fail to report for duties. NHM: Mission Director NHM Dr. Kevichusa Medikhru had invited NEAN president for a meeting on Sunday but said there was no response from the latter. I n t h e l e t t e r, D r. Medikhru reminded that the DoHFW was short of manpower to combat the current COVID-19 pandemic and acknowledged the services rendered by NHM employees, in the present and the past. He informed NEAN that DoH&FW was willing to give an impartial hearing to their demands and urged upon the employees to “come forward for open
discussion” to redress grievances. He said the decision to go for an indefinite cease work was made without giving the department any prior notice and therefore “regretful.” Dr. Medikhru conveyed to NEAN that steps have been initiated to address their demands for which an invitation for a meeting was extended. In the light of the above, he also drew attention of NEAN on the need to combat and contain COVID-19 pandemic where the number of positive cases in the state was increasing. In this regard, the mission director appealed NEAN to call off the cease work, in the interest of public service to achieve the target to mitigate the pandemic situation. Meanwhile, talking to Nagaland Post NEAN president Dr. Shasinlo Magh said its members could not attend the meeting in Kohima since most of them were in Dimapur. Further, he said nurses under NHM would not bow to pressure tactics. Dr. Magh also said the indefinite cease work was on, unless the Department responded with clear cut proposals to resolve their demands.
India to witness COVID-19 peak in mid-Nov
NEW DELHI, JUN 14 (AGENCIES): The peak stage of COVID-19 in India has been delayed by the eight-week lockdown and has strengthened public health measures, and it may now arrive around midNovember when a paucity of isolation and ICU beds and ventilators can arise, a study says. The study, conducted by researchers from an operations research group constituted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said the lockdown shifted the peak by an estimated 34 days to 76 days and helped bring down the number of infections by between 69% and 97%, allowing time to shore up resources and health infrastructure. Interactive map of confirmed coronavirus cases in India | State-wise tracker for coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates In a scenario of intensified public health measures
with 60% effectiveness after the lockdown, the demand for treatment facilities can be met until the first week of November. Thereafter, isolation beds could be inadequate for 5.4 months, ICU beds for 4.6 months and ventilators for 3.9 months, projections by the researchers showed. However, this shortfall is estimated to be 83% less than what it could have been without the lockdown and public health measures. With sustained measures to increase the infrastructure and the varying pace of the epidemic in different regions, the impact of the unmet need can be reduced. If the coverage of healthcare measures can be increased to 80%, the epidemic can be mitigated. According to the model-based analysis for the pandemic in India, with the additional capacity built for testing, treating and isolating patients during the lockdown, the number
K Y M C
of cases at the peak could come down by 70% and the cumulative cases may drop by nearly 27%. As for mortality, approximately 60% deaths were prevented and one-third of this mortality prevention is attributed to the reduction in the unmet need for critical care as a result of the intervention, the analysis showed. The researchers said the management of the disease would involve a dynamic review of policies and significant strengthening of the healthcare system. “While lockdowns will delay the onset of peak and give the much- needed time for the health system to respond, strengthening the health system response in terms of testing, isolation of cases, treatment and contact-tracing, as is being done currently, will have to be the mainstay to reduce the impact of the pandemic in India until a vaccine becomes available,” it said.
doing so until their demands were met. This was stated in a release by district unit president Dr Medozhatuo Keretsü and general secretary Dr Katila Longchar Mokokchung: NHM employees under the aegis of NEAN also ceased work for an indefinite period in Mokokchung district. Healthcare workers assigned COVID-19 duties too stopped work. This was stated in a release by district unit of NEAN. Z u n h e b o t o : Wi t h NHM employees on strike in Zunheboto district, the chief medical officer, Dr. Khehokhu Chishi has written a letter to the principal director Health department informing that the overall district health management system was on the verge of collapse unless the issues were addressed promptly. The protest has created unprecedented crisis in addition to already existing manpower shortage. Dr. Chishi said that the NHM employees, at this juncture, were the backbone for facility quarantine duties,
international, Page 9
Nagaland COVID-19 tally now 168 Nagaland COVID-19 STATUS as ON June 14, 2020 COVID HOSPITAL
Total Cases
Dimapur DH
114
AR Hospital Dimapur
7
Active Cases RecovAsympered tomatic cases 39 75*
Sushant Singh Rajput
DIMAPUR, JUN 14 (NPN): Bollywood lost yet another actor as Sushant Singh Rajput committed suicide at his residence in Mumbai. According to ANI, Sushant committed suicide at his Bandra residence by hanging himself on Sunday, Addl Commissioner of Police Dr Manoj Sharma said. In 2018, Sushant handed a cheque of Rs.1.25 crore to chief minister Neiphiu Rio towards Nagaland CM relief fund for flood. In a tweet, Rio said he was shocked and saddened to hear about the untimely (Cont’d on p-8) demise of Sushant.
Critical Mild Moderate Severe ICU (without ICU (with ICU (OnOxygen) Oxygen) Ventilator) 0
0
0
0
0
0
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Kiphire DH
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Kohima NHAK
16
14
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
Kohima Chedema
13
7
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
Longleng DH
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Mokokchung IMDH
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Mon DH
9
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Peren CHC Jalukie
4
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Phek DH
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Tuensang DH
5
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
Wokha DH
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Zunheboto DH
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
State Total
168
80
88
0
0
0
0
0
0
B. Distribution of Cases by domicile district Kohima
Dimapur
Mokokchung
Phek
Zunheboto
Tuensang
Mon
Wokha
Kiphire
Longleng
Peren
Others
Total
7
23
0
1
1
10
33
7
4
0
80
2
168
80 active & 88 recovered cases
DIMAPUR, JUN 14 (NPN): Nagaland on Sunday registered five fresh COVID-19 positive cases while 12 more recovered from the deadly virus. With this, the state’s active cases stood at 80 and 88 recovered, taking the total tally (Cont’d on p-8) to 168 cases.
Actor Sushant Singh Rajput dies
Symptomatic cases
Health minister S. Pangnyu Phom said that the 5 new cases of COVID-19 positive were reported out of 232 samples tested. Three cases were from Mon QC and two from Peren QC. All positive patients have been transferred to the respective COVID-19 hospitals. He also informed that the 12 persons who had tested negative in their second test were from Dimapur. They have been shifted to
the COVID-19 care centre for further observation and monitoring. Results of 1097 awaited: Out of 5945 COVID-19 suspected samples sent for testing till date, 4848 were received and the results of 1097 samples are awaited, principal secretary Abhijit Sinha informed on Sunday. A total of 6774 persons were currently under facility quarantine and 8212 out of home quarantine.
India’s COVID-19 tally crosses 3.2 lakh NEW DELHI, JUN 14 (AGENCIES): India witnessed its highest-ever spike of 11,929 new cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 3,20,922 on Sunday, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. According to Health Ministry’s update till Sunday morning, cured and discharged cases at present stand at 162378, which is 13030 more than the active cases in the country (149348). With 311 deaths reported in the last 24 hours from across the country, the coronavirus death toll has now reached 9,195. On the recovery front, the country is doing well as the number of cured has already surpassed the active number of cases. However, a PTI tally of figures announced by states and UTs showed the nationwide count of confirmed cases having risen to nearly 3.25 lakh, as of
9.30 PM and the death toll to 9545. This showed an increase of 14178 new cases and 408 more fatalities since Saturday night. Globally, total number of covid cases has surpassed 77.6 lakh while the death toll has crossed 4.29 lakh. India is the fourth worst-hit
country in terms of number of coronavirus cases, after the US, Brazil and Russia. China Sunday reported its highest daily total of new cases in two months. There were 57 confirmed cases in the 24 hours, the highest daily toll since mid-April and included 36 in Beijing.
Organizations oppose cab decision on appt of doctors Call for exempting ART Centre staff from COVID duty
NVCO calls for review of cabinet’s decision Blatant nepotism, says ACAUT
DIMAPUR, JUN 14 (NPN): Opposing the recent cabinet decision to regularise 27 contingency medical officers’ (MO) posts, Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (Cont’d on p-8) (NVCO) has called for its immediate review, besides appealing to aggrieved doctors, nurses and others to resume their duties as the public was left with no option but their service during the global pandemic. According to the organisation, the cabinet decision to regularise the 27 MO posts has demoralised National Health Mission Employee Association, Nagaland, Nagaland Junior Doctors’ Association and contract doctors of NHAK, Kohima in the midst of rendering their best effort as frontline workers to combat COVID-19 pandemic as the decision has as it amounted to discrimination, injustice, nepotism, illegality, backdoor appointment, “I wonder what we’ll do unconstitutional and against the if they impose no work government’s standing order, serno pay on you for cease vice rules and guidelines. work.” Stating that it fully understood
This is it!
NHM employees cease-work
Over one thousand National Health Mission (NHM) employees across the State began an indefinite cease work from Sunday under the aegis of NHM Employees’ Association, Nagaland (NEAN) demanding regularization of service and parity of pay with other health workers. The development comes even as the State is battling COVID-19 pandemic and could severely impact the government’s efforts in containing the spread of the virus. Dimapur: NEAN Dimapur unit has pledged its support to the ongoing ‘cease-work’ protest under the aegis of NEAN. In a statement, Dimapur unit president Dr. Sashi Jamir affirmed that the unit will continue to stand with the association till their demands were fulfilled. Kohima: Similarly, reiterating and reaffirming their full and unwavering support to the NEAN decision to go for an indefinite cease work, all NHM employees of Kohima district began an indefinite cease work and would continue
Re-openings on pause as US records surge in COVID cases
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shortage of doctors and nurses in the State that had been adversely affecting delivery of healthcare services and remained silent on the recent appointment of 27 MOs as a contingency considering the dire needs and urgency, NVCO in a release however asserted that it could not compromise with the cabinet decision to regularise the contingency appointments. It questioned the government as to what was so special with the 27 contingency MO posts, whether they were specialists and more experienced than aggrieved doctors handling COVID-19 cases or not willing to work unless paid higher salary and what was the requirement to appoint and regularise two doctors of a single family among them. NVCO reminded the State government not to neglect more than thousands of employees, including doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, technicians and others, who have been deeply hurt and were demoralised.
Terming the cabinet decision to regularise 19 serving contractual medical officers (MOs) and another 27 MOs appointed purely on contingency basis as “blatant nepotism”, ACAUT has announced its support to National Health Mission Employees Association, Nagaland (NEAN) and Nagaland Junior Doctors’ Association (NJDA) demanding their immediate revocation. ACAUT in a release also appealed to all right-thinking citizens to be on vigil and ready to support frontline health workers until the arbitrary order was revoked. Following a writ petition filed by it in 2017 challenging backdoor appointments and regularisations, ACAUT said a single-judge bench of Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench had on August 3, 2018, directed the State government not to appoint and regularise services of employees who had completed three years of continuous service on contract/ad-hoc basis. After this judgement, the government filed an appeal, which was rejected by the court and the earlier judgement was upheld. Therefore, the cabinet decision amounted to contempt of court, the release cautioned.
Correspondent
KOHIMA, JUN 14 (NPN): Network of Naga People Living with HIV/AIDS (NNP+) and NNagaDao have appealed to the health & family welfare (H&FW) department to exempt medical officers and nurse of ART Plus Centre, Dimapur from COVID-19 duty. Interacting with media persons here on Sunday afternoon, NNP+ president Lanu Aier said people living with HIV (PLHIV) acknowledged all medical officers, nurses and frontline workers for their tireless work in combating COVID-19 pandemic. They observed that the pandemic had impacted the entire health department as almost every staff was taking active part in trying to contain the spread of the virus. Aier, however, reminded that the PLHIV com-
munity was also in need of services and treatment from ART doctors as they could not go to other doctors in private hospitals to avail treatment, insisting that the health department should not neglect PLHIV, TB patients or drug users because of the pandemic. He regretted that as the two ART centre doctors at Dimapur were assigned COVID duty, there was no doctor now to treat PLHIV, due to which more than 1,000 patients had “miscase”. He demanded that the H&FW department should stop its step-motherly treatment. Aier regretted that the development had come despite NNP+ and Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) having had jointly written a letter to the department, requesting exemption of doctors and nurses of Dimapur ART Plus Centre
so that they could provide treatment and services to PLHIV needing medical attention. A RT Fo u n d a t i o n president Ketho Angami remarked that COVID was here to stay and therefore insisted that the department should focus on creating awareness on how to adapt and live along with the virus while treating COVID patients. Demanding that PLHIV, TB patients, drug users or other related sick patients should not be neglected due to the current crisis, he pointed out that TB was even more serious than COVID and that TB patients were vulnerable to COVID. Ketho claimed that in some districts the constituent unit people were volunteering to deliver medicines doorto-door and demanded that some doctors should be relieved to take care of such patients. (Cont’d on p-8) K Y M C