Lakhanpur docs seek PPE, safety gadgets

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 3

Health workers managing screening of the people at Lakhanpur for inter-state migration demanded the PPE and safety gadgets like gloves as there was shortage of these.

Doctors deployed at Lakhanpur have been under stress since they were deputed for the purpose since March 25.

They said the shortage of the PPE kits kept them exposed to the coronavirus as they had to test asymptomatic and symptomatic persons arriving at the spot.

“We have since long been urging the government to provide us with the PPE, but to no avail. We are purchasing our own kits due to the shortage,” said a mid-level health provider (MLPH) worker.

The doctors on duty also expressed apprehensions that many asymptomatic persons who were allowed to stay home and were not quarantined could also be Covid carriers.

“We only take laser gun shot to note a person’s temperature and anybody found reading above 100 degree is listed for quarantine,” said another doctor, adding that as per the WHO reports, a flu of high intensity has a 28 days’ mutation period. Only the check of normal body temperature does not qualify the person from being safe against the virus.