The Ao Senden on Wednesday commenced the first phase of its agitation by enforcing an indefinite closure of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) office in Mokokchung, reiterating that all its demands concerning healthcare services at Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital (IMDH) must be fulfilled.

The agitation was carried out by Ao Senden officials with assistance from the Ao Kaketshir Mungdang (AKM) and Ao Lanur Telongjem (ALT).

The Senden stated that the first phase would be followed by a second phase of agitation if the government failed to respond positively to its demands.

The development follows the Ao Senden’s rejection of the reply submitted by the Principal Director of

Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland, to its ultimatum dated September 16, 2026, which sought action on three key demands: replacement posting of a radiologist and dermatologist at IMDH, shifting to the newly constructed Block A of the hospital, and cancellation of attachments of doctors and nurses, with their return to their original place of posting.

In its reply dated October 15, the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare stated that a trained sonologist had been earmarked for transfer to IMDH along with a dermatologist to address the shortage of specialists. It also stated that the psychiatrist attached to District Hospital Dimapur would return to

IMDH from November 1, 2026, and that two staff nurses attached to the CMO and Medical Superintendent, Dimapur, had been directed to rejoin their original places of posting.

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Regarding the newly constructed Block A, the department stated that the Medical Superintendent had been instructed to shift immediately, as all construction and miscellaneous works had been completed.

However, the Ao Senden, in its subsequent communication dated October 17, rejected the department’s response, maintaining that the measures outlined did not adequately address its demands. It particularly objected to the transfer of the senior radiologist from IMDH to the Naga

Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK), stating that the proposed posting of a sonologist would not meet its requirement for a radiodiagnosis specialist.

The Ao Senden further expressed dissatisfaction over what it described as the failure to fulfil any of the demands contained in its ultimatum, accusing the department of prioritising an attitude of superiority over service to the public.

Announcing its decision to initiate its own course of action from October 21, the Ao Senden stated that the department would be held responsible for any untoward incident that might occur during the agitation.

The indefinite closure of the CMO office on October 21 in the the first phase, the Ao Senden reiterated that it would continue its agitation until all its demands were fulfilled and warned that further action would follow in the absence of a positive response from the authorities.