Ganjam: At a time when states are taking extra precautions for the safety of their frontline corona warriors, health workers in Odisha’s Ganjam district have alleged inadequate supply of masks, gloves and sanitizers.
According to ASHA workers, they are conducting door to door visits and exposing themselves to the virus as they spend hours in the scorching heat to trace and collect data of quarantined people. While they claim that they have consistently raised their concerns, such allegations pose a question whether the State government is really concerned about the safety of these ground workers.
“We are working at the ground level and helping people, but getting humiliated instead. We are not getting masks, hand gloves or sanitizers. There are no facilities for us,” alleged an ASHA worker.
Several ASHA workers recently staged a silent protest and submitted a memorandum to Bhanjanagar sub-collector alleging that they are being denied entry to hospitals and even misbehaved by the security guards at the behest of the Sub Divisional Medical Officer (SDMO).
While refusing to speak anything in front of camera, the SDMO said that the decision has been taken to contain the spread of COVID-19 infection.
Meanwhile, a total of 14 COVID warriors tested positive in the district today and in a span of a week, as many as 63 corona warriors have been infected by the virus. Ganjam even tops as the district with highest COVID-19 positive cases with tally at 1,030. Recoveries in the district are currently at 729 and death toll at 8.
While Ganjam district administration has announced a complete lockdown till June 30, it has ordered that all government offices will be closed for citizens for next 10 days in view of some senior officers getting infected with COVID-19.
(Edited By Bikram Keshari Jena)
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