SAAHIL SUHAIL
EARLY TIMES REPORT
ANANTNAG, June 30: In an example of blatant negligence, the authorities at Qazigund Emergency Hospital (COVID Hospital) in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district have allegedly misplaced the samples of a lactating mother thrice. She had delivered in the hospital two weeks ago and had tested positive for coronavirus two weeks ago.
According to reports, three women were sampled twice by the health department at authorities at Qazigund Emergency Hospital but they didn’t receive reports as the officials allegedly misplaced the samples.
“There is high drama going on in Qazigund hospital, my friend is getting now calls to shift her sister to Kulgam so that they can take the sample third time,” Qasier Mirza wrote on Facebook on Monday
He also gave the details of the lactating mothers whose samples, he said, have been misplaced.
Abdul Waheed Kumar, whose wife delivered a baby boy, on 18th of this month, told Early Times that Health Department officials were pursuing them to shift her to Kulgam for re-sampling.
“Initially my wife was sampled on 15th of June and we received the report on 16th of June. She delivered the baby boy on 18th of June and then on 23rd of June she was again sampled but we didn’t receive any report. Then again they (health department) took over the sample on 26th June but again we were told that the sample got misplaced. Now they are again approaching us for sampling,” he told Early Times on Sunday over the phone.
He said that two other women admitted in the hospital have also faced the same situation. “They have isolated the mothers from children and it is too difficult to manage new born babies without her mothers,” he said.
“If this is not mismanagement, official apathy, giving pain and frustration to people then what is it?” asked Mirza. He said that pregnant women were facing the same situation everywhere.
On Monday, according to officials, all three lactating mothers were sampled for the fourth time and their swabs were sent to SKIMS laboratory for testing. “Yesterday my friend’s sister gave the sample for the fourth time at Qazigund Hospital but it is again missing or misplaced,” Mirza wrote on Facebook.
He alleged that the family was being deliberately punished for raising the issue of negligence. “They are now torturing us and frustrating the family,” he said, adding the lady was put up in the hospital from the last 12 days without her child.
Chief Medical Officer Kulgam Dr Fazil Kochak claimed that the lady, admitted at Qazigund Emergency Hospital, has tested positive for coronavirus.
“We had three ladies at Qazigund Emergency Hospital. Among them two tested negative while as one test positive,” he said, adding those who tested negative have been allowed to go home
On being asked why the name of the lady who tested positive hasn’t figured in the list of released by SKIMS, he said, “Wait for one hour and you will come to know.”
Deputy Commissioner Kulgam, Showket Aijaz on being contacted told Early Times that he will look into the issue. |
