Editor,
Our ancestors had the good fortune – though they might not have realised it at the time – to have humane missionaries like Rev. Thomas Jones I of revered memory who introduced the Roman script and deservedly earned the title of “Father of the Khasi Alphabet.” The pragmatism of the British administrators of the time should also be given due credit for spreading literacy among the Khasis in spite of their initial reservation.
Let me take the liberty to quote from the foreword by Stewart L. Udall in the book, “The Navajo People…”(published 2006) which reads, “To fully understand…of the Navajo People…how the Navajos lived a half-century ago…that generation of Navajos did not have access to rudimentary education…”
By 1945 we had post-graduates among us while at that period the Navajos “did not have access to rudimentary education.” Concerning all this we should show our gratitude by recalling Rev. Thomas Jones’s role in our educational development every International Literacy Day.
Yours etc.,
Morning Star Sumer,
Shillong – 2
NEIGRIHMS nurses grievances & clarification
Editor,
We the NEIGRIHMS Nurses are very disappointed by the inaction and discrimination of our administration towards the nurses at this time of turmoil and war against COVID-19. With the report of the first case of a COVID-19 patient in our hospital on the June 9, 2020, we, the Nursing fraternity of NEIGRIHMS, have expressed our concern in the form of a letter addressed to the director of NEIGRIHMS regarding the breach in the quarantine protocols of the said patient and the attending staffs. The case was also a test that proved that our administration was unorganized, unprepared and unsystematic in handling COVID positive cases. The pandemonium caused by a single COVID positive patient exposed numerous attending staffs and health workers to the virus because of the said unpreparedness in following quarantine protocols. It can also be mentioned here that the doffing and donning area of the COVID isolation unit is not laid out as per protocol. And most importantly, the quarantine accommodations were not made available to the staff members who had done their COVID duty of 7 days. They were instead directed to return home after their COVID posting without subjecting to any screening test for COVID.
However, even with these genuine concerns, this letter was overlooked and not acknowledged to the nursing body. The Director did not pay heed in answering or meeting with the nursing body directly. Instead, he publicly notified to the print media (TNT online news on 14th June, 2020) that the nurses’ concerns arose from what he considered as ‘fear psychosis’.
The Director also stated that the COVID fund is needed to be saved for future use in the case of a ‘COVID-19 tsunami’. However, if necessary gears are not provided and quarantine protocols for both staff members and patients are not followed then wouldn’t that eventually lead to increased numbers of COVID positive cases? What is the purpose of the fund if not for the provision of protective gears and quarantine facilities to health care workers?
The nursing body of NEIGRIHMS, would like to point out the inaccuracies if the said media report. The Director’s choice of words in using the term ‘fear psychosis’ to label our concerns was inappropriate as it downplayed not only these issues but also our profession as frontline workers.
As public health workers, we are constantly under the risk of physical and mental health issues. But at the same time, as trained professionals, we are knowledgeable and efficient in handling such cases. Therefore, it is evident that our concerns are genuine and reasonable as we not only consider our safety but also the safety of our society as a whole. We strongly believe that there is a need for standardized protocols that will facilitate the safety of both patients and health workers in the COVID isolation area which is lacking in NEIGRIHMS at the moment.
However, since all our issues were not addressed by the administration we would like to put forward to you that the nursing personnel of NEIGRIHMS had decided to wear the BLACK BADGE since June 16, 2020, as a gesture of displeasure and would continue to put it on until all our matters are addressed.
Here, we would like to acknowledge that the TNAI, State branch and Nursing Superintendent of North Eastern Institution of Ayurveda and Homeopathy has also come forward in support of our issues.
Yours etc.,
JAC (NNA & TNAI, NEIGRIHMS UNIT)
Names withheld on request
Citizen returnees
Editor,
I am a resident of Meghalaya and have just returned to Shillong after a hiatus of three months. I had left Shillong for a week’s vacation but got locked out due to the pandemic. My homecoming was especially painful for me for the reason that I lost my nearest and dearest one during my absence from home. Under the changed circumstances I was sensitive about everything that would be happening as I entered the city in the midst of this pandemic. But contrary to my apprehensions, everything that the Meghalaya government had arranged for returnee citizens, was smooth and efficient. This was at every point of checking and confirmation, from Guwahati airport to Civil Hospital and from registration at Polo to quarantine at MIIT, Dhankheti. All government officials, drivers, police personnel, health workers and young volunteers worked round the clock, politely and yet firmly. They displayed a superb sense of professionalism.
I am extremely grateful to the Government of Meghalaya and its dedicated team under the leadership of Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma for rendering such remarkable services to the citizens of our state at this difficult time of calamity and distress.
Yours etc.,
Prof. Mondakini Basu
St. Anthony’s College
Shillong