COVID-19: Opp chief whip demands inquiry into NEIGRIHMS nurses’ allegation

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 17, 2020

Opposition chief whip and Mawlai legislator PT Sawkmie has demanded an inquiry into the alleged failure of the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institution of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) to provide adequate protection to COVID-19 frontliners.

In his letter to Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday, Sawkmie said, “I urged upon you to kindly address this issue raised by the frontliners of the NEIGRIHMS by ordering an inquiry.”

The opposition legislator said the issue raised by the nurses of the institute during a protest held yesterday is very serious.

“The nurses after working in the hospital and exposing themselves to COVID-19 patients, were supposed to stay in the quarantine centre. But it is very unfortunate…the authorities did not allow them to do the quarantine, instead, they sent them directly to their respective residences which is very harmful to their family members, neighbours and the community as a whole,” Sawkmie said.

Also Read | COVID-19: NEIGRIHMS nurses stage protest over lack of PPE kits, govt to fix responsibility

The nurses under the banner of the NEIGRIHMS Nursing Association had staged a black flag protest inside the institute premises on Tuesday.

The association has alleged that the hospital authority has failed to provide required quarantine facilities and personal protection gears or PPEs to the nursing staff who are dealing with COVID-19 patients.