Mokokchung groups ease CMO office shutdown for 3 days

MOKOKCHUNG – Civil society organisations in Mokokchung will lift their shutdown of the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) office for three days from Thursday so that children can be immunised, but they have warned that the agitation will be stepped up after a public rally in the town on Nov. 16.

The decision was taken on Tuesday at a joint meeting at Aor Kilem of five bodies: the All Ward Union Mokokchung Town (AWUMT), Watsü Mungdang, Ao Kaketshir Mungdang (AKM), Ao Lanur Telungjem (ALT) and Ao Senden. The Morung Express reported the resolutions from a communication the groups sent to the Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung.

The relaxation, from Nov. 5 to 7, is being allowed “on humanitarian grounds” for child immunisation and medication, the organisations said.

All India Radio News Kohima reported on Wednesday that the groups had resolved to continue the agitation and would intensify it after the rally.

Nov. 13 deadline for joining reports

The organisations want all detachment and joining reports completed by Nov. 13. A state government notification dated Oct. 30 had allowed 14 days for the handing and taking over of charge, according to The Morung Express.

“Afterwards, escalation of agitation will be executed after a public rally at Mokokchung Town on November 16,” the communication said. It did not say what form the escalation would take.

The letter was signed by Ao Senden president Marsanen Imsong, AWUMT president Lemasashi, Watsü Mungdang president Tianaro Tamir, AKM president Lanulemba Longchar and ALT vice president Tinukaba.

Why the CMO office was shut

The Ao Senden, the apex body of the Ao Naga tribe, locked the CMO office on Oct. 21, the first phase of its agitation over staffing and infrastructure at Dr Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital (IMDH), the main government hospital in the district. Members of the Ao Senden, ALT and AKM were stationed at the office gate, Eastern Mirror reported.

The closure followed the Ao Senden’s rejection of an Oct. 17 reply from the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, which it said had addressed none of its demands. According to Eastern Mirror, the directorate had explained that a senior radiologist was moved from IMDH to Naga Hospital Authority Kohima because of a shortage there after a promotion, and that a trained sonologist had been earmarked for IMDH.

The Ao Senden had three main demands, Nagaland Post reported:

• Post a radiologist to IMDH, as provided in an Aug. 19 notification. The group said nothing short of a radiologist would be acceptable.
• Detach doctors and nurses attached to other establishments and return them to IMDH, as sought in its Sept. 16 ultimatum.
• Shift hospital services to the hospital’s newly built Block A.

The group also asked why the department had ordered the release of IMDH’s senior radiologist on Sept. 7 but had not issued a similar order releasing the incoming radiologist from District Hospital Phek.

The Central Nagaland Tribes Council backed the demands on Oct. 24, citing a shortage of specialists and patients having to travel long distances for diagnostic services.

Radiologist posted, agitation continues

On Oct. 30, the Health and Family Welfare Department posted a radiologist to IMDH through notification No. MED-3/A/1/2006 (PT)/696, The Morung Express reported.

In a letter the next day to the department’s Commissioner and Secretary, the Ao Senden thanked the department for the posting but refused to end the agitation, citing “insincere actions in the recent past.” It said it would call off the protest only after all attached doctors and nurses were returned to IMDH and all transferred staff had submitted joining reports at the hospital. The letter was signed by vice president Aowati and general secretary Imtipokyim. Also Read Nagaland sets state-wide mass social work for Nov. 13

It was not clear whether the demand to move services into Block A had been met.

Nagaland.News found no public response from the Health and Family Welfare Department to the latest resolutions as of Wednesday afternoon.