Kohima: The United Sangtam Students’ Conference (USSC) began a seven-day protest on Friday in Longkhim Town to address a severe healthcare crisis. The movement follows the state Health Department’s failure to respond to a three-week ultimatum regarding the urgent need for medical staff and equipment across the Longkhim and Chare subdivisions.
As part of the demonstration, the USSC enforced a shutdown of all local businesses and held a public rally. Representatives later submitted a formal memorandum to the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Longkhim, intended for the Principal Director of the Department of Health and Family Welfare in Kohima. The organization stated it was “left with no viable alternative” but to launch the protest after the government ignored their previous 21-day deadline.
The memorandum demands the immediate appointment of a Senior Medical Officer, doctors, and nurses at the Community Health Centre in Longkhim. Additionally, the group is calling for the installation of ultrasound and digital X-ray machines at the facility, staffed by trained technicians. The students also cited the Indian Public Health Standards 2022 to highlight the government's failure to meet basic staffing requirements at various local primary health centers, including those in Chare, Tsadang, and Angangba.
USSC leadership warned that the current lack of resources has turned clinics into mere buildings that cannot handle routine care or emergencies. The organization has cautioned that if the government does not issue deployment orders and secure the necessary medical equipment within the week, it will move to a more intense second phase of protest. The student body emphasized that the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare will be held responsible for any further unrest resulting from the ongoing lack of medical services.
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