USSC protest transfer of nurses, doctors; seals CMO & MS office

February 13, 2024 27 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Kiphire | February 13

The United Sangtam Students’ Conference (USSC) sealed the offices of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Medical Superintendent (MS), Kiphire, on February 12. The act of sealing was the USSC’s 1st phase of agitation against non-fulfillment of its demands.

USSC President, Sethrongba Sangtam said during the sealing, today, that the offices were sealed on account of the “non-fulfillment of our demand regarding the transfer of nurses and doctors, including the CMO.” Sangtam said that the district’s CMO was transferred out in November and the government has yet to send a reliever.

While the USSC alleged the MS of not attending to work regularly, it said that the Deputy CMO was managing the office of the CMO. The USSC also submitted a letter to the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, through the Deputy Commissioner Kiphire, today, drawing the Principal Director’s attention.

The letter stated that an “emergency tripartite meeting” of the USSC executives, area officials and Sangtam intellectuals was held on February 8 in Kiphire, wherein they discussed the “non-fulfillment to its demand despite of multiple representations submitted” to the DH&FW. While stating that the decision to seal the offices of the CM and MS was taken at the said meeting, it said that the offices will remain shut, beginning February 12, until their demands get addressed as a matter of urgency.

According to the USSC, Senior Specialist, Dr I Angto Phom (Anesthesiology) was transferred to the District Hospital (DH), Kiphire on October 11, 2023, from the NHAK in lieu of the transfer of Dr Deitho Kozo, (Anesthesiology) to the IMSR. The former has yet to report to his assigned post, it held.

In addition, it said that a replacement has yet to turn up following the transfer of Dr Manwen Konyak, (OM) Medical Officer, DH, Kiphire. Further, it said that the DH has been functioning without any X-ray technician for more than two years. The technician was transferred to the DH, Kiphire, from IMDH, Mokokchung but the USSC said that the said technician was in no position to perform his duty on account of poor health.

It mentioned three other cases of nurse transfers without relievers— ANM/FHW Selongla Sangtam, Staff Nurse Kevisenu Tetso and Staff Nurse Ikusile from the DH, Kiphire. “The shortage of manpower has reached alarming levels, posing significant risks to the health of our common people and causing them to endure untold hardship, and the general people are forced to seek medical care outside the district,” the USSC stated.

While it sought remedy from the government, it cautioned, “The department shall be solely held responsible and accountable for any citizen’s deaths resulting from substandard medical care.”