PANJIM: What could be more shocking than this? Frontline warriors on the first line of defence against COVID-19 – the health workers – are not well equipped to save themselves.
After the State registered almost seven cases of COVID-19 of health workers deployed in Vasco, health workers say they are fighting a war without any weapons.
All the seven cases of health workers are of those who were posted in Mangor Hill, which has become the epicenter of COVID cases in Goa.
Speaking to Herald, a few workers said there are thousands of PPE kits which come to the State from Centre, but are only given to doctors and nurses. “We are here doing the dirty work, like collecting swabs, being with the suspected persons for hours together but nobody is concerned about our health or protection,” said a health worker, who did not want to be named.
He added that they are only given gloves, masks and shower caps, which have no quality. “Some of us get our own face shield, N95 masks and gloves, as the government has provided us sub-standard quality materials,” said another worker.
Another worker said they are being sent from airport to railway stations without proper safety equipment or any material, and that they have to spend almost 24 hours on duty, with another 24 hours off. “As per the protocol of MHA and Ministry of Health, this is not right,” he said.
Speaking to a news channel, not Herald, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane confirmed that seven health workers had tested positive. “These are the workers who had been deployed for other works like dengue, malaria etc before the COVID outbreak and few were on COVID testing duty.” He did not elaborate on any safety equipment’s provided to the health care workers.
The protocol of the Union Ministry of Health says that healthcare workers in different settings shall use PPEs appropriate to their risk.
It also says that all healthcare workers should have undergone training on infection prevention and control and are aware of common signs and symptoms, need for self-health monitoring and need for prompt reporting of such symptoms.
“Provisions have to be made for regular (thermal) screening of all hospital staff and all healthcare workers managing COVID-19 cases are being provided with chemo-prophylaxis under medical supervision,” the protocol says.
Also the department has to ensure that all preventive measures like frequent washing of hands/use of alcohol-based hand sanitiser, respiratory etiquette (using tissue/handkerchief while coughing or sneezing), are followed at all times and that the worker use appropriate PPE at all times while on duty.
“Regular quarantine of healthcare workers after performing duty in COVID-19 areas is a must,” the protocol says, adding that high risk contacts will be quarantined for 14 days, tested as per ICMR testing protocol, actively monitored for development of symptoms and managed as per the protocol.
“If they test positive but remain asymptomatic they will follow protocol for very mild/mild/presymptomatic cases. If they test negative and remain asymptomatic, complete 14 day quarantine and return to work,” the protocol says.
