After villages, urban areas oppose testing

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 4

After persistent opposition in villages, the Health Department is now facing stiff resistance in urban areas as well. Consequently, health workers, including doctors, are in constant fear. The workers have been facing a tough time in several areas of Patiala city, including Dheha Basti, New Yadvindra Colony, Indra Colony and Virk Colony, because residents refuse to

come forward for testing.

In Dheha Basti, residents today threw stones on health teams to oppose sampling, the department said. There seems to be a trust deficit between the government and residents following rumours that health teams were “deliberately declaring healthy people Covid-positive”. Though the Patiala police have already taken action against the rumour-mongers, the spread of misinformation continues.

A medical officer said, “People don’t believe us. There is a huge trust deficit between residents and the government. Opinion leaders are missing from the battlefield.”

In New Yadvindra Colony, ASHA workers were threatened by residents. A woman at the colony said, “We will beat them with sticks. We will throw stones if they enter our area. We won’t take any Covid test.”

Patiala Civil Surgeon Dr Harish Malhotra said, “These incidents are definitely demoralising our workers. It is sad that people are behaving like this. All our efforts are only aimed at saving people from Covid.”