Krishnagar hospital staff up in arms over decision to set up Covid-19 isolation ward for expectant mothers

Biswabrata Goswami

Statesman News Service

KRISHNAGAR, 18 APRIL: Nurses and paramedical staff at the Krishnagar Sadar Hospital in Krishnagar, today, launched a protest agitation against the decision taken by the district health department authorities for setting up an isolation ward for pregnant women suffering from infection of novel coronavirus inside the hospital premises.

This brewed up at a time when the chief minister Mamata Banerjee has categorically mentioned that no corona-related system like isolation ward, quarantine center or Covid-19 hospital should be set up inside the general hospital complex. In this regard, she had even expressed her disappointment against a few district magistrates who eventually had framed up a system inside the complex of general hospitals in their respective districts in recent times.

The Nadia district administration had set up two Covid-19 hospitals, one at SNR Carnival Hospital in Kalyani and Glocal hospital beside NH-34 in the outskirts of the district headquarters. But, later they turned the Glocal hospital as an isolation center.

The new decision to set up an isolation ward inside the premises of the Sadar hospital, dedicated for pregnant women and children up to six years including post natal treatment, has bewildered the nursing and paramedical staff.

“There is every possibility of spreading infection of the dreaded novel coronavirus among the normal expecting mothers because doctors will visit every ward. The nursing staffs working in various wards are not properly equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). So, in this circumstance, it is unfortunate that our authorities are considering setting up such a vulnerable ward inside the hospital premises”, said a nursing staff.

The agitating nurses also held the district health department authorities for failing to provide safety gear meant for treating coronavirus.

The nurses and paramedical staff held the protest outside the office of the chief medical officer of health alleging that authorities were not showing any concern for the safety of the staff.

“We are not saying that we will not work. But, before dealing with such types of suspected patients, we should be properly protected with safety gears. The district authority will supply PPE for doctors and nurses in the isolation wards. But, the staff in the emergency department will be the first ones to encounter patients”, a nursing staff said on condition of anonymity.

On hearing the agitation, the district magistrate Vibhu Goel rushed to the hospital this evening and held a meeting with the agitating nursing and paramedical staff.

When asked Mr Goel said, “There was a miscommunication between the health authorities and nursing staff. But, now the problem has been resolved”.

Meanwhile, the district health department has sent 12 hospital employees in the quarantine center. These employees had directly come in contact with the infected ex-BSF jawan, who was admitted in the Saktinagar district hospital, in the last 24 hours. This apart, eight persons from the Charatala area where the infected jawan lived have also been sent to the quarantine center for observation.