Health officials face hostility in Patiala's containment areas, ASHA workers worst-hit

Karam Prakash
Tribune News Service
Patiala, July 19 

Health officials continue to face the wrath of residents in the containment areas in Patiala. ASHA workers—foot soldiers in the unprecedented fight against coronavirus—are the worst-hit because they are the ones who have to conduct house-to-house surveys.

The Tribune accompanied ASHA workers in the survey of containment area Top Khana Mor.

During the survey, residents shut doors as health workers came knocking to avoid screening. In some cases, ASHA workers were insulted by the people in the area. In one instance, a middle-aged man did not open the door despite repeated requests by the ASHA workers.

In another household, in Sheehan wali Gali in the containment area, a woman flatly refused to reveal any details of her family. She said, “If there will be anyone symptomatic of the disease, we will let you know. Now, you go off and don’t disturb us.”

The health department has also started a makeshift OPD in a Government school in the containment area. However, people are still apprehensive about getting a checkup at the OPD. Only four people reached out to the health officials for the checkup at the OPD in two days.

Dr Mohammed Pravez, the doctor in charge of the containment area said: “We have almost completed the survey in the area and started OPD. The resentment has now reduced a little bit. We are expecting people will come forward.”