Lawmaker handling injection at Covid centre criticized

VD Zalavadiya who represents Kamrej assembly constituency in Gujarat is not trained in medical work. In a video, he was seen injecting Remdesivir into a drip bottle to be used on a Covid-19 patient in Sarthana in Surat, reports said.

Surat: A BJP lawmaker in Gujarat has drawn criticism after he transferred medicine into a drip bottle at a Covid care centre.

VD Zalavadiya who represents Kamrej assembly constituency is not trained in medical work. In a video, he was seen injecting Remdesivir into a drip bottle to be used on a Covid-19 patient in Sarthana in Surat.

Congress spokesperson Jayrajsinh Parmar criticised the act and said Gujarat Health Minister Nitin Patel should get inspiration from the MLA and open a centre to train BJP workers in administering injections, which would also address the issue of acute shortage of medical staff in state hospitals.

Zalavadiya apologized, but defended his action and said he did not administer the dose to any patient.

Parmar said, 'It is sad to see how Kamrej MLA Shri Zalavadiya flaunts his skill. Taking inspiration from him, Nitin Patel (Deputy CM with health portfolio) should set up a training centre on how to dress a wound and administer injection under the leadership of Mr Zalavadiya.'

'Even those parents should take inspiration from Zalavadiya who are unable to send their children to medical schools,' the Congress leader added.

Zalavadiya said he has been serving COVID-19 patients at Sarthana community care centre for the last 40 days, and more than 200 patients have recovered and discharged from the facility.

'We have treated more than 200 patients and sent them home. There are still 10-12 patients at the COVID care centre. I am sorry if somebody thinks I should not have done the service of transferring Remdesivir injection in the drip bottle,' he said.

He told reporters, the BJP party workers of Varachha and Kamrej Assembly constituencies were jointly working to serve the people.

“Congress has nothing better to do than create controversy and criticise good work done by others,' Zalavadiya said.