Social distancing a casualty during immunisation of kids

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 22

Even as the government has issued guidelines for ensuring social distancing as a precautionary measure to keep the spread of Covid-19 at bay, a huge rush of patients, that too in complete disregard to the guidelines, was witnessed at government dispensaries and health centres here on Wednesday.

At government health centres, (every) Wednesday is the day on which immunisation of newly born children is done. So, today being Wednesday, a large number of people, along with their children aged between 2-day-olds and 6-year-olds, were present at the centres for their immunistion.

The parent of a child, who visited the health centre at Mustfabad for immunization, said, “All the three government employees administering immunisation injections to children were sitting in the same room without obeying the social distancing norm. Besides, around 150 women carrying children in their lap were standing in the corridors outside.” She said by not following the social distancing norm at such places, even small children were being exposed to the risk of infection.

Visitors at the Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC), Kot Khalsa, too reported the same scenario. They stated that a huge rush of patients in the waiting areas was a cause for concern. “A system to ensure social distancing for the safety of the general public and medical staff should be put in place,” said Jaswinder Singh, an area resident.

The district health authorities stated that it was also the responsibility of the residents to keep distance. “We do not have security guards or cops to enforce social distancing. The medical staff can only provide medical services and cannot be expected to enforce discipline. The public should understand its responsibility and help in ensuring that no government guidelines are violated,” said an official.