Neiphiu Rio in the Assembly. (File image)

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday said in the Assembly that more than Rs 62 crore has been spent for improving the medical infrastructure of the state.

Rio in a statement on Covid-19 said the fund has been spent to improve the medical infrastructure and putting in place systems, equipments and manpower for winning the battle against the pandemic.

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He said getting resources has been tough given the overall constraints of the state and reduction in the revenues due to pandemic and lockdown.

Rio added that the total expenditure stood at around Rs 74 crore due to various other non-medical interventions like relief to stranded people, distribution of food and dry rations to migrants, needy people, preparation of quarantine centres and the entire quarantine arrangements, transport arrangements for bringing the people back, information, education and communication activities.

Taking both the medical and non-radical interventions, the total expenditure came to about Rs 139 crore, out of which the state government from its own sources has spent about Rs 112 crore, which included about Rs 3.35 crone from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund), Rio said.

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He also said the focus is on improving and upgrading the health infrastructure as well as creating and running quarantine centres, Covid hospitals and Covid care centres.

He added that the government not only created sufficient testing capacities in the state in record time but also substantially augmented the number of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel besides roping in private hospitals to supplement the government effort in dealing with the crisis.

Rio appealed to the people not to panic and stigmatize those who might unfortunately get infected but take necessary health precautions at individual, family and community levels and follow the government advisories.