Mokokchung, November 8 (MTNews): Late Dr J. Tongpangyongdang Walling who was popularly known as Dr Tongpang by the townsfolk passed away in the wee hours of November 8 at around 1:30 Am at Zion Hospital, Dimapur.
The funeral service for the Late Doctor, proprietor of Woodland Nursing Home will be held on November 9 at his residence in Salangtem ward from 10:00 following which he will be laid to rest in his native village of Sungratsü.
Dr J. Tongpang Walling was the first Gynecologist among the Nagas. He was also the first Medical graduate from Sungratsü village, and the founder of the first and only nursing home (Woodland Nursing Home) in the Mokokchung district. He had been acting as the Director and Consultant of the nursing home since its inception on 15 February 1978.
Dr Tongpang was the 5th child of Mr and Mrs Jakjemkaba Walling of Sungratsü village – born on 14 November 1934. After his early schooling in Impur and Govt. High School Mokokchung (now Mayangnokcha Higher Secondary School), he passed his T.C (Intermediate Science) from St. Edmunds College in 1962 and obtained his MBBS degree in 1967 from Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh.
In 1970, he obtained his Post Graduate Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the University of Calcutta to become the first Gynecologist among the Nagas. The same year he joined Nagaland Government service and served as an M&G Specialist in the Dept. of Medical and Health Services at Mokokchung Civil Hospital, Tuensang Civil Hospital and Naga Hospital, Kohima, till 1977. After resigning from government service in 1977, he established the Woodland Nursing Home.
Along with his profession as a private practitioner, he also had the privilege to be a member of the Mokokchung Town Committee as a government nominee from 1981-1984. He was also a life member of the Indian Red Cross Society, a life member and a fellow of the All India Medicos Society and a life member and a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicos, a Member of the Central Advisory Committee – Food Safety & Standard Association. He also participated in various scientific sessions sponsored by the All India Medicos Society and was a recipient of the Vashisht Chikitsak award.
The Rotary Club of Mokokchung also awarded a citation to him as the best doctor of the year in 1980. Woodland Nursing Home in collaboration with ABAM, Bright Hope Ministry, IRCS and Nagaland Missionary Movement has also trained youngsters in the healthcare sector from the Indo-Myanmar border area for over 10 years. He was also recognized with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ during the ‘Year of the Entrepreneur 2010-11’ by the Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI).
Married to Temsukala, daughter of Mr and Mrs Lanutoshi in 1971, the late doctor is survived by his wife and four children, one son and three daughters, and six grandchildren.
