Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Kohima: The United Sangtam Students’ Conference (USSC) has escalated its protest against the Nagaland Health and Family Welfare Department over long-standing administrative neglect. The student body warns that the Longkhim-Chare region faces a dire healthcare emergency caused by a severe lack of medical staff and failing infrastructure.
At the center of the dispute is the Community Health Centre in Longkhim. The facility currently lacks Senior Medical Officers, Medical Officers, and sufficient nursing staff, leaving a lone dental surgeon to manage operations. Because of these shortages, critically ill patients often receive only basic first aid before facing long, dangerous journeys to distant hospitals.
The USSC highlighted the situation at the Primary Health Centre in Chare, which also suffers from a lack of dedicated medical officers. The organisation stated, "The Department of Health and Family Welfare would be held responsible for any public unrest, disruption of services or adverse consequences arising from the continued shortage of healthcare personnel and facilities."
Despite formal appeals in 2024 and an initial ultimatum in early 2025, the group claims the department has failed to take meaningful action. The students have now issued a final seven-day ultimatum, demanding the immediate deployment of staff and the installation of essential diagnostic tools, such as ultrasound and digital X-ray machines. Their demands cover six facilities, including health centers in Tsadang, Mungangkhyun, Chimonger, and Angangba.
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