Expressing concern over rising cases of medical staff getting infected with Coronavirus in ICUs worldwide, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Monday demanded that extensive protective gear must be provided to the medicos and para-medics working in different hospitals where coronavirus patients are being treated in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement, DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan said,”It’s high time that all medicos and para-medics who are handling COVID-19patients get extensive protective gear. If health care workers collapse, thehealth system will shut down, and people will die,” he said.
“Medical staff in high risk areas like ICU have moreexposure to infection as the severely ill are more infective, and also they dothe higher frequency of medical intervention and aerosol-generating procedureslike intubation and respiratory/ airway suctioning,” he said.
Dr Nisar said health care workers must self-monitor, reportsigns of illness and not engage in patient care while exhibiting respiratorysymptoms.
“Many health care workers have medical conditions thatelevates risk of severe infection and death. Such work force should be redeployedaway from high risk sites,” he advised.
“With COVID-19 crisis likely to stretch over weeks tomonths, ensuring that health care workers get adequate rest and are supportedas health care professional and as an individual will help to keep themgoing,”said Dr Nisar.