The National Human Rights Commission has asked the Secretary, Union Ministry of Health and Family welfare to take appropriate action and submit action taken report (ATR) over black fungus deaths and infections in India.
Passing a direction to the Ministry, the NHRC stated that the concerned authority shall take appropriate action as deemed fit in the case and submit the ATR over the issue which shall be informed to the complainant, within eight weeks.
Seeking urgent intervention of the NHRC, Supreme Court lawyer and social activist Radhakanta Tripathy had filed a petition stating therein even if over 3,000 people from across India, including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi and Odisha have been suffering from mucormycosis popularly known as black gungus, neither the Government of India nor any State Government is serious over the serious issue.
Due to lack of medical care, treatment facilities, guidelines, inaction and negligence by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and the State Governments, the new decease has been causing deaths and disabilities all over India, Tripathy alleged.
While Covid-19 cases and deaths continue to plague the battered health infrastructure of the country, the new fear of mucormycosis or black fungus is causing more worries in Maharashtra where more than 55 deaths have been caused with more than 2,000 affected and in Odisha, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and others the disease has started reporting deaths and infections, the petitioner contended.
The plea citing media reports over the past few days, said Jaipur has seen more than 30 patients with black fungus infection. Many of them have lost their sight. Tripathy requested the NHRC to act on an urgent basis through direction to the Centre and all the States as the disease relates to Covid infection for formulating policies and issue guidelines as to how to handle the crises and ensure preparedness for medical facilities and treatment availabilities.