No personal protection equipment provided to us, allege medicos

Srinagar, Mar 19: Doctors and n health workers working at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh(SMHS) hospital Srinagar on Thursday alleged that authorities have failed to provide them personal protection equipment.
A senior doctor at SMHS hospital told Kashmir News Observer that even though there is a positive case of COVID-19 in valley the authorities are yet to provide personal protection equipment including N95 masks, hand sanitizers, gloves, eye shields and gowns to doctors and other para medical staff.
They said that despite the fact that they are vulnerable to all kinds of infections as they deal with hundreds of patients every day but response of authorities is totally pathetic.
“When authorities can’t provide us with a few masks how can we deal with patients with high viral loads and Covid-19 symptoms,” he said. A worker posted in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of SMHS said that they are the first contacts, but they lack the basic facilities like mask, hand sanitizers, gowns etc.
“We appealed higher authorities several times about the issue but they have failed to provide us with these essential equipment at a time when medical emergency has been declared,” he said.
“We are most vulnerable to the pandemic and if authorities will not take care of us, how will we take care of patients.”
Medical Superintendent of SMHS hospital Dr Nazir Choudhary they have provided all the necessary equipment to all employees including doctors.
Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Samir Matoo also said that there is sufficient availability of personal protection equipment’s in health services. “We are fully prepared to deal with Coronavirus pandemic,” he claimed.