Amid Covid scare, OOAT clinic workers sans protective gear

Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 9

Employees of drug de-addiction, rehabilitation and OOAT clinics in the state are working without protective gear amid Covid-19 pandemic. Workers at these centres said they had not been provided masks, gloves, and hand sanitisers despite the fact that their job involved meeting multiple contacts.

“We come in direct contact with hundreds of drug addicts to give medicines. Therefore, we are at risk of getting infected with the disease,” said employees.

The Government Drug De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Employees Union Punjab said they were providing 24x7 services to make the state drug free and save youth from drugs, but the authorities were not taking care of them.

Parminder Singh, state president of the union, said the Punjab government was ignoring their genuine demand for protective gear. He said, “We are trying to make the state drug free, but the government is not taking care of our immunity. We don’t have gloves, hand sanitisers, and face masks.” Either their services should be regularised or special allowances be given to purchase face masks, gloves, and sanitisers, he added.

They were standing with the government in this hour of crisis, employees said while adding that the government should also consider their basic needs.