CIHSR is taking care of the aged through its service with affordable fees. CIHSR has attracted a lot of patients, not only from within the state but also from neighbouring states particularly Upper Assam, Rio said.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, on Friday inaugurated the state’s first “Acute Care Hospital Block” at the Christian Institute of Health Science and Research (CIHSR)/Referral Hospital, 4th Mile Dimapur, which was built within a span of five months and a hundred days.
Stating that the state government wanted to run the “Referral Hospital”, Rio disclosed that the state government lacked resources while also having limitations for which they opted for a “public-private partnership” with the CMC Vellore and Immanuel Hospitals, the best expertise in managing the hospitals, and who have already garnered respects across the country.
Mentioning that Nagaland being one of the remotest, the most backward states, a tribal, a minority, having all the “ingredients” of bad names, Rio said he believed that one day, the Nagas will overcome all the these things.
“I used to tell my people and leaders daily that we are not poor, we are not backward but we remain backward and poor though we are rich because of the unresolved Naga political issue,” Rio said while also adding that all systems and potentials have been hampered, and minerals, resources, human resources and potentials not being exploited.
Executing a “commendable job” besides the Government hospitals, Rio said that all these years CIHSR has been taking care particularly the old aged as their service rendered is good and fees reasonable for which they have attracted a lot of patients, not only from within the state but also from neighbouring states particularly from Upper Assam.
Rio also shared that the COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a “global crisis” and challenges across the world, the immediate impact was not enough to handle the pandemic situation. “Even in our country, we faced a huge crisis and till today we have not found any medicine which can
cure so have to be prepared for future also,” Rio said.
He further added, “we are in partnership with the society and a board, which the government is controlling, therefore, we should know that they have come to rescue and save us in partnership and to give healthcare services to our needy sick people, and we should not think that we are giving it away”.
Informing that the government has a “financial crisis” and to come-up with Rs.300 crores to set up another 200 bedded hospital is a big question and the people have the right to question also, Rio said those “criticisms” only made the government stronger and to have determination to do everything right.
He also disclosed that they have checked the facilities in other Government hospitals and then decided that it should be set up at CIHSR because they have the land and they have come forward that they would provide doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and they also have the facilities for nursing college and other paramedical units which would not cost the government.
The chief minister hoped that the “Acute Care Hospital” would come to good use for the people of the State towards sick and families.
Minister, Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland, Pangnyu Phom, who said that the Nagaland government “walked”
the COVID-19 pandemic with commendable and appreciable support from all quarters of the society and also with all available resources.
He said that his department has gone an “extra mile” with its doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and others working at the frontline tirelessly all through the “tough times” and sparing little time for one’s own family and loved ones.
Pangnyu lauded that despite undue “criticism” from certain sections and other obstacles, the department and all those involved have done a commendable service in the fight against COVID-19 till date for which he acknowledged them by stating that they are the “real heroes and brave hearts” to whom we should give earnest respect.
He later said as minister in-charge of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland, the COVID-19 pandemic was an “eye opener” for many countries and states of the country to restructure the medical system and to build health centres with well-equipped facilities in order to cater to the needs of the people in the best possible way in the fight against COVID-19 and for post COVID.