Peripheral hospital doctors demand separate accommodation

Say they don’t want to infect their families

Peripheral hospital doctors demand separate accommodation

Srinagar: Doctors and other healthcare professionals in different peripheral hospitals of Kashmir have demanded separate hostel accommodations similar to what their counterparts in Srinagar hospitals are being provided. According to doctors, there is apprehension they might infect their families and others if they go home after completing their duties. “The hostel facility is a must for every doctor, nurse and paramedic working with Covid-19 suspects in district hospitals as part of contingency plan. But, unfortunately, the government has provided such facility in Srinagar only,” said Dr Suhail Naik, President Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK). “Our association has already informed the government about our demand but there is no headway so far,” he said.

Dr Naik, who is a paediatrician in one of the Covid-19 hospitals in Pattan, said hundreds of staff members get in contact with suspected patients. “It becomes imperative for them to stay away from their families and neighbourhood. But, there must be some decent space for them to stay comfortably,” he said. Last month the government dedicated eight hospitals in Kashmir and three in Jammu for Covid-19 cases and designated them as Covid-19 hospitals. T he total number of Covid- 19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir has crossed 100 with three persons died and four others have recovered. Dr Owais H Dar, who works at the medical college hospital in Anantnag said the active Coronavirus cases have been increasing daily. “I request the district administration to allow some accommodation for doctors and health workers near our workplace,” Dr Dar said.

He said the doctors and paramedics directly deal with patients so they are at high of carrying the infection outside. “So as a precautionary measure we want to stay away from our families and community,” he said. A nurse posted in District Hospital Ganderbal told Kashmir Reader that she has been attending many Covid-19 suspects and those admitted in the quarantine. However, the administration gives her chance to carry Coronavirus infection to the community. “I am forced to travel from hospital to home after attending Covid-19 suspects due to lack of hostel facility. The administration is non-serious in this regard.

That is why we demand separate accommodation for us,” she said. Dr Naik said every district hospital must provide a hostel for at least 50 persons to accommodate every doctor and health worker for the period of 14 quarantine period. “If government wants to contain the infection, they must keep the accommodation available. They must understand that doctors are not on election duty who can be send to crammed rooms. We are dealing with a deadly infection,” he said. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, PK Pole assured that the medical staff working in exclusive Covid-19 hospitals will be provided with the hostel accommodation. “Doctors and paramedics working in exclusive Covid-19 hospitals will be provided the accommodation only,” he said. However, he didn’t specify the time duration.

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