COVID-19 Testing Labs Still not Available in Nagaland

Kohima, April 13, 2020:

After the first case of the new coronavirus or COVID-19 was detected in a man from Dimapur, Nagaland, the demand for a testing centre is now gaining momentum. Bafflingly, the state is yet to have its own testing centre for the contagion that is wreaking havoc across the globe.

Even though the COVID-19 positive man was showing symptoms for several days and was admitted to Damapur's Zion hospital on April 8, he had to wait till yesterday to get his report. Why? Because the state does not have a single facility for testing patients. This has been openly decried by opposition parties as well as NGOs who are demanding the Government to act swiftly and decisively.

ALSO READ: Meghalaya Reports First Positive Case of COVID-19, Shillong Under ‘Complete Curfew’ for 2 Days

The Congress earlier today lambasted the Government for not constructing a testing lab for the virus as it continues to spread across the country. "As the threat of pandemic increases, the incompetence of political leadership in Nagaland is more glaring than ever before. Last minute work in sprucing up some hospitals or health centers will not be enough to handle the flow of patients if COVID infection spreads. Nagaland by now should have COVID-19 Testing Lab in place other than being assured that it is in progress. Deficiency of PPEs and other critical medical equipments still continues which is utterly disgraceful and demoralizing to those frontline health care workers", the Nagaland Congress wrote in its statement.

Taking further digs at the administration run by Neiphiu Rio, the Congress chastised, "Inspection visits to hospitals, distribution of some medical kits and food items is the only visible work of PDA government headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio who has been at the helm for major part of past 17 years. If only importance was given to social and health sectors, things would have not been as bad as it is now."

The Dimapur Ao Youth Foundation has also come forward and says, "the lack of testing facilities and pre-screening kits in Nagaland has been glaringly exposed by the infected individual being given two false negatives only to be later given a positive on being tested outside." The organization further urged the Government to maintain full transparency in its efforts to tackle the virus.

ALSO READ: Breaking: Mizoram Girl Tests Positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai

The Naga Council, yet another influential body, has said that the "absence of testing laboratory for COVID-19 in the state is one of the biggest challenges for the entire people of the state." The Council has also demanded a testing laboratory in Dimapur, the commercial hub of the state.

Meanwhile, the state of Meghalaya has also reported its first case of the COVID-19 in the state, taking the total tally in the Northeast Indian states to 38.

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.