Welcome move
As the second wave of covid-19 is showing signs of recovery the administration has announced opening up of all healthcare facilities which includes the resumption of OPD, routine surgeries as well in all hospitals across Kashmir division.
The Directorate of health services has asked all CMOs, BMOs and medical superintendents to resume OPD, surgeries and other routine healthcare facilities and services in the interest of better patient care.
The patient care had gone for a toss after health facilities were once again closed for routine patients in the month of May following a surge in covid-19 cases. The move by the administration had meant that people who had other ailments had no other choice but to resort to tele-medicine facilities or other alternatives which were proving to be very confusing and tiresome.
Normally most of the routine patient care is taken care of by the government healthcare facilities across Jammu and Kashmir. This includes treatment of all routine and chronic ailments and other surgeries that are conducted by these healthcare facilities round the clock.
And once these facilities were put on hold it meant that a huge chunk of population which includes the young and the old had to face a difficult time in managing various routine and other ailments for a period of almost two months now.
The closing of healthcare facilities for routine work and entertaining only covid-19 patients has been witnessed for the second time during the past two years. During this closure periods routine patient care took a bad hit as most of the people either resorted to self medications or had to witness a tough ordeal in seeking expert advice on their ailments.
This meant that a huge chunk of population was left to fend for themselves during the times of pandemic when even professional healthcare workers were ignoring their distress calls.
Covid-19 is here to stay and experts have already warned of a possible third wave. This means that in the coming week and months a situation can arise where the number of covid-19 infections can again witness a spike and again closing of healthcare facilities can be discussed as an option to cater to increased number of covid patients.
This response to covid-19 infections may seem to be an immediate solution to address huge patient footfall but in the long run it creates more trouble for those who suffer from other ailments have limited or no facility to get themselves treated.
The administration should try to carve out a plan where only a few hospitals are spared for covid care and other major hospitals are let to function routinely so that other ailments among the people are also taken care of.
Since we do not have a full fledged private sector healthcare option available here the closure of hospitals for non covid ailments proves to be a cumbersome decision.
The creature destination
Those in camouflage and dejection,
Are your men, loved distraction
My Lord! Supper controller is You,
Don’t deflect for adoration
I landed to govern,
Divinity caught me in worn
The moments I got, found your creature as wrought
It seems time-departure approaching,
It seems the other world waiting
Lord! You are the hope for those lorned,
You don’t deject your men, abandoned
We ride horses to different hoel,
Every race end at your settled goal
We are your men, rinse bad deeds,
Shower blessings and beautify soul
(Shahid Mehboob is a student Dd Target PMT Class 12th)