COVID-19: Health workers at risk in Himachal Pradesh due to lack of protection kit

Doctors and nurses treating patients with COVID-19 in Rampur are putting their lives at risk because of a lack of protective kit for frontline staff. Not only that, due to paucity of funds, the staff of the hospitals including the security guards, nurses etc are also being charged for the transport facility.

Rampur:The health workers at Mahatma Gandhi Medical Services Complex situated in Rampur are putting their lives at great risk as they are forced to reuse the masks and gloves while treating COVID-19 patients due to the acute shortage of PPE kits.

Not only that, due to paucity of funds, the staff of the hospitals including the security guards, nurses etc are also being charged for the transport facility.

"We do not have gloves and masks to protect ourselves. All of us just have a pair of gloves and a mask, which we are using from the past one month. No arrangements have been put in place for providing us protective gear," said Devika Devi, sanitation worker while speaking to reporters here.

"Already we were facing trouble in commuting. Now, they have provided a cab for which they are charging Rs 450 every month from us," told Divya, a nurse at Mahatma Gandhi Medical Services Complex.

Farmer leader Prem Chauhan said, "It is unfortunate that the sanitation workers, security staff, technicians are not getting the protective gear which is essential to combat COVID-19. They are also been charged for commuting to hospital."

Narendra Chouhan, SDM Rampur also spoke to media on the same and said, "The hospital had sought permission only for one car. A vehicle belonging to Rogi Kalyan Samiti has been provided to them for the staff. We will try to charge as less as we can."

"Efforts are on to provide them with masks and gloves too," the official added.

ANI Report