COVID-19: Tripura district hospital faces protective gear shortage

Agartala: At a time when the state has already registered a coronavirus positive case, a shortage of supply in masks, sanitizers and personal protection equipment (PPE), among others, despite repeated pleas, has forced the doctors, nurses and other health workers of the Unakoti district hospital in Tripura to stage an agitation starting from Wednesday morning.

Severely criticising the authorities concerned for their failure to provide these items despite repeated requests during this time of crisis, the agitating workers of the hospital have raised a question mark on the entire medical system of the district.

“Without these items, how can we ensure safety and security of the patients here? Forget about coronavirus, we are not even equipped to serve the normal regular patients,” some of the doctors participating in the strike alleged.

Elaborating on the problem, the agitating health workers alleged that there was no proper masks supplied to the staff of the hospital. ”Yes, we have been supplied with some handmade masks. After washing, we are re-using it. When we are not safe, how will we offer our services to the needy ones?” one of the doctors asked.