Can’t fight battle sans PPE kits: Jalandhar nursing staff

Tribune News Service

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Jalandhar, April 8

Staff nurses and frontline workers deputed at the most sensitive trauma ward of Civil Hospital in Jalandhar on Wednesday raised objections over the non-provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) kits to them.

Over 20 frontlines workers, including nurses, sweepers and Class IV employees, donning masks and gowns, gathered outside the office of medical superintendent and stated that they needed PPE kits for carrying out their duties.

Out of 11 persons deputed at the trauma ward which include four staff nurses, three doctors, two sweepers, two Class IV employees, only three have been provided with PPE kits. In a shift, the kits are made available to only a doctor, a nurse and a sweeper.

A nurse deputed at the trauma ward said, “Only three personnel deputed at the isolation ward are being provided with PPE kits. We earn a meagre Rs10,000 per month and have no health insurance. We and our families are at serious risk.”

Another nurse said, “After a patient lodged at the Civil Hospital’s emergency ward tested positive today, a nurse who had been attending to her for the past two days broke down as she feared having caught the infection. She has a two-year-old child. Support staff with PPE kits spend 90 per cent of their shift in close contact with patients. Unless we are provided with adequate protection, and health cover, it is risky for us to work with both suspects and positive patients.”

Dr Mandeep Kaur, Medical Superintendent, Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, said, “Adequate PPE kits are being provided to all staff members and there is no dearth of the kits. Patients are being taken care of properly and three also went home today after getting recovered.”