MLA Achumbemo Kikon raised several concerns in the health sector during the Zero Hour of the concluding 14th Nagaland Assembly monsoon session on Thursday.

Highlighting the plight of the Naga public where general patients often face major inconveniences in government hospitals, Kikon questioned the non-availability of generators and inverters at the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) General wards while the ones available are only allotted in the ICU. The MLA also called attention to the shortage of manpower in the medical sector and asked the concerned Minister to create proper Policy in tackling these issues.

The absence of a Chief Medical Officer in the newly created districts like Shamator, Chümoukedima and Niuland were also pointed out, where he stressed on the need for a fully geared manpower and medical equipment in all districts. Kikon also placed emphasis on the ongoing dengue and conjunctivitis outbreak where schools were closed down and many affected.

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Replying to Kikon’s questions, Minister of Health and Family Welfare P. Paiwang Konyak stated that in case of any outbreak where more attention is required, the Department of H&FW considers it an emergency and necessary arrangements are carried out by observing certain protocols and mechanisms.

“About the present situation of surge in Dengue disease in Mon and Dimapur, the Department is closely monitoring and doing everything possible to help the patients although there is no specific medicine for Dengue,” the Minister added.

He told the house that at present, 136 patients have been admitted in District Hospital Mon of which 50 have tested positive for dengue through rapid diagnostic test and confirmed through ELISA test, while the remaining patients too are suffering from symptoms similar to dengue.

Read more: Health Minister Paiwang rushes to Mon amid sharp rise in Dengue, Conjunctivitis cases

“I had updates yesterday from the MS, CMO and the DC Mon and the MS and CMO of Mon District Hospital have asked for more manpower and additional fund so the Department is working on it to be sent at the earliest. As for Dimapur district, I visited on 2nd September and at present 80 dengue patients occupied in bed till yesterday. The cases are gradually declining according the record of Dimapur District Hospital and as for the private Health Centres I hope the numbers must also be declining,” said the Health Minister.

Paiwang further assured that the Department was taking every step to provide the best health services to the public and appealed all citizens to keep their surroundings clean and free from stagnant water so as to keep away from the tiger mosquitoes. He also requested the District Administrations and District health sectors to sensitize the public and issues directives for the mass cleanliness drive in the colony and wards.

MLA Achumbemo Kikon also raised the issue of the salary of MLAs where elected legislators receive a mere amount of Rs 50,000. “When the public demand for help as it becomes the duty of an elected MLA to take care of their constituency but they do not have enough from their salary,” cited Kikon.

In response, Speaker of the house Sharingain Longkumer mentioned that the House Committee has been deliberating on the review of salary of the members in consultation with the Government alongside the Finance Department. Longkumer further assured that the committee will put forward “its proposal very soon and in the interest of all the member of the august house in a pragmatic manner.”