Muneeb-ul-Islam
Anantnag, May 29, KNT: Although authorities had directed medical staff to identify pregnant ladies in every district and get them tested for Covid-19 till June 18, but the situation on ground particularly in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district is altogether different.
District Anantnag hospitals are always in news with regard to their treatment towards pregnant ladies. Doctors particularly at Maternity and Child Care Hospital Anantnag refer pregnant ladies to other hospitals in the garb of pandemic. Most of the doctors refuse to attend these pregnant ladies citing Covid-19 as reason.
In order to ensure that pregnant ladies brought into the hospitals are Covid-19 free, Directorate of Health Services Kashmir had directed medical staff to identify the pregnant ladies and get them tested for Covid-19 before they are admitted into the hospitals.
The data reveals Block Medical Officer Anantnag has not taken the order seriously while as Community Health Officers and Asha Workers are showing laxity in this regard. “Medical staff is not serious and active on ground. There are scores of pregnant ladies whose samples are yet to taken. These pregnant ladies will naturally face problems when they will get admitted in the hospital where doctors as a matter of fact will refuse to attend them in wake of Covid-19,” an activist told news agency KNT adding that it is the high time that medical staff should be activated and pregnant ladies be identified and tested.
Another activist said that those doctors should be taken to task who refuse to take care of even those pregnant ladies who are already tested negative.
A medico however held people responsible for the slow rate of collecting sample of pregnant ladies in the district. “People are also responsible for their (medical staff) inactiveness as they were attacked at a number of places. People should also act responsibly and treat the field staff with respect. There were instances, when Field Staff was assaulted and rebuked.”
Chief Medical Officer Anantnag, Dr Mukhtar told KNT that 90% pregnant ladies have been identified and tested. “Work is going on and field staff is on ground,” he added. (KNT)
