The Community Health Centre (CHC) at Nungba in Noney district is grappling with serious infrastructure and safety challenges, with officials warning that damage caused by the ongoing widening of National Highway-37 has jeopardised critical healthcare facilities.
An oxygen generation plant installed during the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen emergency medical response has remained non-functional for an extended period due to persistent power supply problems. The situation has further deteriorated after large-scale earth cutting for the highway expansion severely damaged the CHC campus, leaving the oxygen plant in an unsafe location and unfit for operation.
The ongoing highway work has also affected the under-construction Trauma Centre and Blood Bank. Health officials said extensive soil cutting near the site has raised concerns over structural stability, delaying the completion of the two vital facilities intended to enhance emergency healthcare services in the region.
Residential quarters for healthcare personnel have also fallen into disrepair. Several quarters suffer from severe roof leakages during the rainy season, while portions of some buildings have been declared unsafe, forcing medical staff to continue living and working under hazardous conditions.
Chief Medical Officer of Noney, Dr. Azin Meiringmei, accompanied by District Immunization Officer Dr. Jendum Gonmei and District Surveillance Officer Dr. Garanlung Thaimei, inspected the oxygen plant, Trauma Centre, Blood Bank, Intensive Care Unit and staff quarters to assess the extent of the damage.
During the visit, the District Health Society, Noney, launched the district-level Stop Diarrhoea 2026 campaign at CHC Nungba to promote preventive measures, improve sanitation awareness and reduce diarrhoeal deaths, particularly among children.
Despite the deteriorating infrastructure and an acute shortage of manpower, CHC Nungba continues to provide healthcare services, with its limited staff striving to ensure uninterrupted medical care for the people of the remote sub-division.