Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 9: Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) has demanded proper personal protective equipment (PPEs) to all health workers doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, cleaning staff engaged as frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19.
In a statement released today Dr Arun Mitra (senior vice president of IDPD) and Dr Shakeel ur Rahman (general secretary) said that it is unfortunate that the healthcare staff engaged in fight against COVID- 19 are being reprimanded and punished by the administration.
They referred to a letter to the Prime Minister by the Resident Doctors the Association of AIIMS which says “Instead of appreciating the efforts of doctors and health workers towards welfare of their peers and patients, they have received a harsh backlash. It is the responsibility of Government to ensure that these ‘soldiers’ are heard, their opinion respected, rather than humiliated”.
It is an irony, said the IDPD, that on one side the Government talks of fighting COVID-19 and the Prime Minister asked the people to beat Thaalis, Ghantis and play Shankhs to appreciate the health workers and on the other side the health workers including doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, cleaning staff and ASHA workers who are raising concerns over lack of proper equipment for their personal protection are being neglected and reprimanded.
“There are reports of health workers being ostracized by their neighbourhood, facing physical attacks and abuse from patients or their attendants. Even worse, they are facing highhandedness of Government officials for raising the genuine concerns. Even the ASHA and Anganwadi workers who are working in the frontline in combating Corona are being manhandled in various states by police,” they said.
Stating that administration’s backlash and apathetic and insensitive attitude of Central and State Governments is condemnable and will lower the morale of health workers, they said it is high time that the Central Government equips front line health care workers and hospitals with adequate supplies of necessary facilities and equipment to fight the spread of Corona and for treatment of patients.
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