Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Tuesday held an E-meeting where various aspects of Covid-19 were discussed. Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK). President Doctors Association Kashmir, Dr Suhail Naik appreciated the tireless and fearless work of all the health care workers who are doing tremendous work while risking their own lives. Many HCW lives have been lost and lot hve suffered from the deadly disease.
Dr Suhail Naik said that the war against an invisible enemy is multi-pronged and collective efforts from the administration, health and community participation are utmost important to win this war.“The Jammu and Kashmir administration has played a pivotal role from the very beginning by imposing strict lockdown, aggressive contact tracing, quarantine, testing and isolation,” during ist wave, he said.
He said that the people of the union territory have religiously followed all the administrative and health advisories during ist wave and their role can’t be undermined, similar efforts are needed during this time too,he added.
General Secretary DAK, Dr Owais H Dar said that doctors and paramedics are always putting their health and life at risk while dealing patients and it is our duty to help our people during disasters of such amplitude.
“While Covid-19 is a recent threat to health and life, we can’t brush aside the all-time risks imposed by endemic communicable diseases like HIV, Hepatitis B and C on health care workers,” he said.
“Our health sector has always delivered during disasters and it is now the right time that the government must address various issues of health care workers in order to raise their morale during these testing times,” he added.
Doctors Association Kashmir has demanded that the administration must fulfill all the below mentioned demands on priority basis:
Provide adequate protection in the form of security personnel in every covid hospital and supply of PPEs especially N-95 masks in bulk.
Ensure that only one member of the couple is put on COVID-19 duty. There are many instances where both husband and wife are giving Covid-19 duties. This has psychologically impacted their family and children, who are under constant stress.
The government should consider one-time relaxation and allow doctors to join the department who were recruited last year on a fast track basis but couldn’t join as they were doing postgraduation or senior residency at that time. Most of the doctors who have been terminated in past are ready to serve our people amidst COVID-19. They might be given one last opportunity to serve the people and this augments the staff in the shortest time.
Doctors and paramedics are always risking their lives and it is imperative to provide them monthly risk cover as there are always chances of cross-infection while dealing with such high-risk cases like HIV, HCV, HBS, COVID-19 and performing duties during turmoils.
Good Accommodation facilities for doctors and paramedics along with necessary logistics for doctors involved in COVID-19 duties at least at District level.
Strong measures for mass awareness among people regarding Social distancing, mask for all and self-hygiene because this may have to be practised beyond lockdown period unless there will be an effective drug therapy.
Due to surge in Covid positivity as well as death rate in Jammu and Kashmir, Its urged on the Government to enforce Complete Lockdown for atleast 2 to 3 weeks to break the chain of transmission barring emergency and essential services. It will buy the govt more time to build necessary logistics especially Emergency drugs and Oxygen build up.
It is time to build Liquid oxygen reservoirs and set up more Oxygen Plants/Generators in each District on war footing basis to augment High flow oxygen beds across the territory.
Demands enhanced Vaccination quota from central government for Jammu and Kashmir with equitable distribution among Districts based on population.
Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) requests Hon'ble LG of J&K, Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon'ble Advisor, Shri RR Bhatnagar and Financial Commissioner HME, Shri Atal Dullo to kindly take a holistic view about the measures suggested in the larger interest of medical fraternity and the public at large.