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REGIONAL

COVID-19—desperate parents of 6-month-old-child pick up holes in Health Care facilities in Kashmir

By News Desk

January 25, 2022

Our son tested positive at G B Panth, was referred to JVC where officials asked us to visit ward on own risk; Having no option, took my child to ward; later me and my wife fell to Covid too; Docs could have treated my kid in room only; Won’t tolerate such happenings, let parent identify, will take stern action, says Principal JVC

The story of a desperate parents, whose eight-month-old son showed mild symptoms of fever at home on Saturday, who later tested positive for Covid at children hospital G B Panth, Sonwar, Srinagar, where from he was asked to visit JVC Bemina for treatment. At JVC Bemina, the father of the kid was asked by officials to take the child to ward at “his own risk where majority of patients are already positive as the hospital is already a Covid designated one.”

The struggle put in by the kid’s father, Nasir Ahmed, a resident of Srinagar, has taken a lid-off the tall claims of “quality health care and Covid management available for one and all in Srinagar.”

“My child developed mild fever and I decided to take him right away to G B Panth which is a children’s hospital. There, doctors tested my child who was declared Covid positive. Instead of treating him there, I was asked to take my kid to JVC Bemina,” Nasir told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

He said without wasting time, he took his child to JVC Bemina where he was taken bya surprise. “After waiting for a while at JVC, officials there told me to take the child to ward at my own risk where there are already Covid positive patients. I told them how can I take such a risk as the hospital is already Covid designated,” said Nasir, who had no option other than to get his son checked in the ward.

“Now irony is that after visiting the ward, not just me, my wife also got infected and after testing ourselves, both of us came as positive for Covid,” said Nasir, adding that why it is mandatory to visit the ward in JVC and why there is none to see children at the entry point or a room.

“This happened to me, what would be fate of people who can’t even afford to travel during evening hours incase of emergency.”

Medical Superintendent GB Pant, Dr Nazir Choudhary when asked about the development said that JVC has been designated as the Covid hospital while the children who test positive are being referred to the particular hospital to ensure that the lives of other patients are not put at risk.

However, Principal JVC hospital, Dr Irfan Rubani told KNO that it is an unbelievable incident and the attendant, who has witnessed such a situation, should meet him in person and identify the official so that a stern action is initiated against him.

“It is Covid designated hospital and we won’t allow anyone who is negative to ensure that his health is not put at risk. But, we are here for the patients and will always ensure better treatment to those visiting here. If the official is identified, we will ensure strict action against him,” he said—(KNO)