Two ambulances were flagged off for Primary Health Centre (PHC), Mangkolemba Sub-Division on 19th July 2024, DIPR has said. The project was implemented by Tribal Affairs Department, Nagaland and funded by Ministry of Tribal Affairs was held at the Directorate of Tribal Affairs.

Gracing the ceremony, Minister for Tourism & Higher Education, Temjen Imna Along, said the precuring of the two Ambulance for Japukong range Primary Health Centre (PHC) and Tsurangkong range under Mangkolemba Sub-Division was an achievement and a blessing and called upon the officers and the leaders of the range to be responsible to educate the people on good governance.

The minister hoped that Japukong and Tsurangkong range, which constitute of more than 35 villages, the neighbouring villages and petty workers in the area would benefit from the life-support ambulances. He also said that with a bench mark of over hundred PHCs in Nagaland, Nagaland should try to achieve excellence in health care as our people spend a lot of money for their health care in other districts.

Along mentioned that these life-support ambulances which were available only in Kohima and Dimapur are now being made available in the rural and village areas too and called it an achievement for the Health & Family Welfare Department. He also stated that the ambulance would be a collaboration between the community and the department and the responsibility to maintain vehicles should be taken up by both the PHC and the community.

Minister Imna Along also stated that to help the two PHCs, technicians would be appointed and under LADP fund drivers’ salary would be earmarked, since such funds utilized for such kind of needs was the right way to move forward.

Principal Director, H&FW, E. Motsuthung Patton in his short speech thanked the Department of Tribal Affairs for providing the two life-support ambulances and hoped that it would be beneficial for the people of the area. He also thanked the Department of Tribal Affairs for their help in infrastructure development and construction of new sub-centres.

Short speeches were also delivered by President Tsurangkong Range, Moanuksung and President Japukong Range, Imdongtangba. Project Officer, Tribal Affairs, Imsumeren who chaired the programme also gave a brief highlight on the technical report and technical specification of the two life-support ambulances.