Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 2: Expressing serious concern over the more and more cases of COVID-19 positive from amongst the medical and paramedical frontline staff which has caused a sense of alarm among healthcare professionals across India, the leaders of Jammu Kashmir Reserved Categories Empowerment Alliance (JKRCEA) has urged the Government . to provide due protection to the frontline medical staff who are the real warriors in the fight against dreaded corona virus.
Sham Lal Basson, head of socio-religious wing of JKRCEA, said that it was very serious situation that in Jammu too, a Microbiologist engaged at GMC Jammu in the war against COVID-19 himself tested positive. “It is very unfortunate that the tests of his family members were only conducted after the repeated personal requests of family, of whom three members are tested positive for COVID-19,” he said and added that under such a situation, those fighting from front would not only be at risk but the patients and general public may also get caught infection un aware.
The leaders of JKRCEA appealed R R Bhatnagar, Advisor to LG and Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, J&K, to personally intervene and pass forthwith instruction to the concerned strictly implement the standard operating procedure of testing, quarantining, hospitalization and treatment. The effected Microbiologist and his family members may also be optimally taken care and the others frontline health staff be given proper personal protective equipments (PPEs) so that those who are directly or indirectly involved in the mitigation of COVID-19 crisis, may not feel insecure, they said.
Mohinder Bhagat, another leader of JKRCEA, said that those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic are concerned that the lack of adequate PPE endangers not only themselves, but their patients as well. Thus it is vital that our health care workforce is well equipped with sufficient supply of masks, sanitizers and personal protective equipments, he added.
Pledging full support at all levels at this critical moment, JKRCE informed that it has been providing the ration and food items to the stranded labourers and other needy people. Help Line in this regard has also been established by JKRCEA and any person in case need any assistance can call at these Numbers: 0191-2457492; 7889944265; 9419112409 and 7889359507.