Doctors, paramedics battle paucity of protective equipment, masks in Himachal Pradesh

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 27

The resident doctors, paramedics and nurses who are the forefront of the covid epidemic fight in the flu clinics and hospitals emergencies are not just battling the disease but also face shortage of life protective gears, N 95 masks and the absence of lodging and food arrangements as most PGs have closed down after the curfew.

The government or the Health Department is yet to make any alternative arrangements for them. Resident doctors working round the clock at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) say that they need N 95 masks and protective kits in view of the Covid-19 outbreak saying that they run a high risk of exposure to infection.

More than 50 per cent of residents stay in PGs where they were not getting the food facilities. With dhabas and restaurant being shut, they are facing great difficulty. Some of the colleagues are getting food for them from their homes.

The residents, who are on duty in covid isolation wards, insist that alternative lodging and food arrangements will have to be made for them as they cannot go home in case covid patients come here.

Allaying fears of the residents and paramedics, Medical Superintendent, IGMC Dr Janak Raj said, “All alternative arrangements for the residents are in place for their stay and food. We are providing masks to the flu clinics staff and PPEs and N95 masks are provided to the staff manning the isolation wards.”

Similarly, the residents and doctors of government medical college Hamirpur, Nahan, Chamba and Tanda and those working in private hospitals also pleaded that they are not being given the N 95 masks and kits in flu clinics considering that over 1,476 persons with travel history from the covid-affected countries are under quarantine in both hospitals and homes.

Additional Chief Secretary Health RD Dhiman today said they had directed the nodal officers to ensure the supply of PPE kits and N 95 masks in the hospitals. Dhiman said all the 19 samples tested today were found negative.

So far 3,409 persons with travel history have been tracked in the state. Out of them, 1,476 persons are under quarantine while 688 persons have competed 28 days isolation, he added. He said the IT was preparing an App to keep track of all the persons in home quarantine.