Former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla on Wednesday maintained that healthcare workers are corona virus warriors and govt should do its best for redressing their grievances such as protective kits to effectively treat Covid-19 patients. He expressed serious concerns relating to imminent and extreme risks posed to the health and safety of healthcare workers throughout the country. He said that due to the lack of proper safety equipment, around 150-200 nurses have been infected with COVID-19 or corona virus and over 600 to 700 healthcare workers are in quarantine. He said healthcare workers in the country are corona virus warriors and the government must take all necessary steps to address their grievances. Bhalla said, a large number of healthcare workers including nurses, doctors, and other staffers are infected in various parts of country. The health and safety (physical / mental) of health care workers are of utmost importance because further shortage of health care workers would result in thousands of unattended COVID-19 patients, which will have serious repercussions including escalation of the present situation and resultant impact on the economy, medical facilities, potential deaths and loss of human resource, Bhalla said. He demanded Govt to provide COVID-19 protection kits to every single health care professional working in the corona isolation wards, or who work in close proximity of patients suspected to be infected with the virus. He also demanded Govt to ensure that all health care workers are trained on infection prevention and control (IPC), proper use and disposal of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).
Meantime former Minister on Wednesday continued the distribution of ration and other essential items among needy people. Today he distributed food items at Bahu Fort in Bagh Mohalla, Manhas Mohalla, Baga-E-Bahu. Prominent among those who accompanied Bhalla include Jatinder Singh Chib, Pawan Kumar, Deewan Chand, Madan Lal, Shambu Nath, Latish Sharma, Sahil Shavotra, Aman Bawa, Mulakh Raj, Iqbal Singh beside others.With three weeks gone and maybe another three to go before they can even contemplate returning to their villages, the days ahead stretch interminably for the thousands of migrant labourers who decided to not take the long walk home but wait for the lockdown to end. And now, with the lockdown extended till May 3 to stem the spread of the corona virus, the little money they had is mostly gone and so is hope it will end anytime soon. They can’t earn till the lockdown ends. Their family does not have money back home. Their entire standing crop of wheat has to be harvested. Who will do that? Bhalla asked.The extended lockdown has put a strain on the resources of animal lovers, who have been feeding stray dogs since the lockdown was imposed,” Bhalla said, adding that starvation and peak summer heat may lead to casualties among animals.The government must reserve a quota of food grains for animals too, he said, adding that municipalities and panchayats must place water containers at various locations for strays.