Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, July 28: Doctors falling prey to COVID-19 in Kashmir has sent alarm bells ringing as they are the frontline warriors and are working very hard amidst the pandemic.
A 40-year old doctor from north Kashmir’s Bandipora dying due to COVID-19 has added to the prevailing fear psychosis. “Kashmir is witnessing COVID deaths daily and the virus has started taking toll on the medicos. The doctors, who have been at the front, turning positive is a dangerous sign,” said an observer.
He said, “We have to find out the reasons about why doctors are turning positive. The administration needs to see whether they are properly equipped or not. Are they being provided with the protective kits or not? Are they taking enough precautions to remain safe?”
“The divisional administration in Kashmir is working overtime to fight COVID-19 for the past 6-months. Doctors have been a part and parcel of the fight against COVID-19. They have stood against all the odds and have worked without any specific medicines to save the precious human lives. They have to be protected and provided all the facilities,” the observer added.
There are reports that doctors working in Primary Health Centres in far flung areas are trying their best to handle the crisis. These PHCs are not COVID centers and anyone can come for treatment. “These PHCs have to be equipped so that doctors and paramedical staff remains safe,” said an analyst.
He said that COVID-19 is prevalent everywhere and we never know who can act as a carrier and infect the other person. “Doctors working in far-flung areas are the most vulnerable lot. They too have to take care of themselves. When patient comes to them they are unaware about his ailment,” the analyst added.
“We need to look at the places where COVID had spread before reaching Kashmir. The first thing which the first world countries did after the outbreak of pandemic was that they secured their first line of defence. They went out of way to protect the medicos. It seems that time has come for us to act on the same lines. We cannot afford to lose the doctors. After Almighty we pin all our hopes on them,” he said.
“These are tough times. Instead of criticizing we need to support each other. COVID is at its peak. We have to cooperate with the administration to prevent situation from turning more deadly. We have to take precautions to keep the virus away. We are being repeatedly told to maintain social distancing, wear masks and use sanitizers. By not following the guidelines we are putting our lives and the lives of other people, including the doctors, who are treating us, at stake,” the analyst added.
