Anantnag: With an increase in the number of cases turning positive for COVID-19, patients in Kashmir hospitals are complaining of a falling response and apathetic negligence from authorities. In one such case, a mother and her new-born in South Kashmir’s Anantnag were ‘kept together with a COVID-19 patient’, soon after undergoing surgery.
The lady’s husband, Muneeb Ul Islam, told Kashmir Bylines that her expecting wife, Masrat, was admitted at Maternity and Childcare Hospital Anantnag on July 8. She had been tested for COVID-19, as per protocol, just the previous week and turned negative, deeming her safe for a cesarean section.
When the lady was well into labour pain, she was taken to the theatre once but was returned on the grounds of having fever and flu-like symptoms. The lady, according to her husband and as supported by her reports, had been diagnosed previously for urinary tract infection which was the underlying cause for such symptoms. Even though Muneeb Ul Islam brought the documents into the doctors’ attention, they delayed the surgery till a physician specialist was called in after a long wait to assess her situation further, putting her life at risk.
The physician, according to Muneeb Ul Islam, described it as a ‘normal flu’ and cleared the case for a cesarean procedure on the condition that ‘she be isolated and monitored for a particular duration afterwards.’ But, after the surgery, Masrat and her new-born baby were kept together with another COVID-19 suspect with serious symptoms and her test awaiting, risking the mother-baby duo’s life.
Even when the suspect turned positive, the authorities took no step to segregate the two patients. Muneeb Ul Islam, who has struggled for years visiting many doctors along with her wife to have their first child, raised a cry and asked the authorities about the gross negligence over and over. It was only after his repeated requests to different levels of administration hierarchy that her wife and new-born baby were separated from the COVID patient.
Muneeb Ul Islam is still much worried as a fresh sample has been taken from her wife to be tested to verify if she has been influenced by the company she was kept in. While her instant test has detected an increased level of antibodies, Muneeb Ul Islam hopes and prays that the actual test which is awaited turns out to be negative and thus end his worries.
Principal GMC Anantnag, Dr Showkat Geelani, while talking to our Anantnag correspondent, told that he will take cognizance of the matter and initiate the necessary action. Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, on being informed by Kashmir Bylines about the case, told that he will personally take note and is considering the steps demanded by the situation.
The case serves as a typical example of how the COVID-19 response is falling and how the protocol laid down on papers is compromised. KB
