It may sound unusual but it is true that despite attempts of Dhanbad deputy commissioner to tag a minimum of two ambulances with any rural health centre for transporting Corona patients, the situation still has not improved here in Dhanbad.
The community health center (CHC) Govindpur medical officer on Wednesday came across a bizarre incident while family members of a 35 year old woman reached the centre and asked the doctor to send the woman to a dedicated Covid hospital.
The woman- a sahiya by profession was declared Corona positive on August 3 following the test but could not be admitted to hospital for treatment despite repeated requests for last three days.
Mukhia of the Gortopa Panchayat under Govindpur Block Lukman Ansari, who was among those who accompanied the Corona positive Sahiya said , “Since the day report of her coming positive came in all entry and exit points of her house were sealed by erecting barricades on directive of the Block development officer (BDO). But, no one from the health department approached her for taking her to a Covid hospital thus on request of the family I brought her to CHC."
Family members of the victim claim since the barriers were erected they are being treated as outcast in the village with no one willing to come forward to extend help. The patient’s husband said, “For the last three days we couldn't get ration and milk despite repeated attempts.”
Govindpur CHC in- change Dr Sheela Kumari said, “Though two ambulances have been tagged with us but both are not responding. One of the ambulance drivers said that the vehicle is under repair and the other simply denies that he is an ambulance driver. Issue has been reported to senior officers of both the health and administrative officer. Since we don’t have our vehicle at CHC we could not extend any help to the victim.”
Ansari said, “Despite our attempts till Wednesday evening the patient could not be shifted to Covid hospital and she was asked to return home.”