Covid-19: Expecting mothers allege ‘apathy’ in south Kashmir
Anantnag: Although authorities had directed medical staff to identify expecting women in every district and get them tested for Covid-19 till June 18, 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 expecting women. Doctors particularly at Maternity and Child Care Hospital Anantnag refer them to other hospitals in the garb of pandemic. Most of the doctors refuse to attend these women citing Covid-19 as reason, sources in the hospital said.
In order to ensure that expecting mothers brought to the hospitals are Covid-19 free, Directorate of Health Services Kashmir had directed medical staff to identify the expecting mothers 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 women whose samples are yet to taken. These women will naturally face problems when they will get admitted in the hospital where doctors as a matter of fact will refuse to attend to them in wake of Covid-19,” an activist said, adding that it is the high time that medical staff should be activated and expecting mothers be identified and tested.
Another local from Anantnag said that those doctors should be taken to task who refuse to take care of the expecting mothers who have already tested negative for coronavirus.
Notably, a medico however held people responsible for the slow rate of collecting sample of pregnant women 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,” he said.
Chief Medical Officer Anantnag, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, when contacted said that 90% pregnant women have been identified and tested for Covid-19.
“Work is going on and field staff is on the ground,” he added. (KNT)
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