S Tahir-ul Haq
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Aug 6: There are number of female students like Female Multipurpose Health Worker (FMPHW) and general nurses who are doing their internships or training programmes in different peripheral or state hospitals but are being told to perform the night duties.
"They are students, not the employees. Why are they forced by some pharmacists or staff nurses to follow the orders on night duty," asked sources.
They quoted a group of girl students as saying, "We have theory classes as well as practical classes which we usually attend in the hospitals. Under the supervision of senior doctors, we are put in groups and we learn the medical education which can help us after finishing our diploma courses."
Sources said there are many girl students in all the districts of Kashmir valley especially Srinagar, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Bandipora, Kupwara and Budgam, and most of them have complained that they are being forced to give night duties in the hospitals. "Some senior employees including senior nurses and staff nurses don't attend their night duty as they are enjoying the patronage of some Medical Superintendents," said sources.
Many nurses and pharmacists have been exempted from night duties, with the result some emergency patients are referred from the sub-district hospitals to Srinagar.
Due to inexperience and immaturity these students will be held responsible if any untoward thing happens in hospitals.
"Government should establish a complaint mechanism for all people, be it a student or employee of the concerned department.
A compliant committee should be headed by women and half the members of the committee should be from women department only so that justice will be provided in the quickest possible time," said sources.
For the night shift employees especially women, there should be separate work sheds, canteen facilities, transport facility, medical facilities besides two or more women wardens to work as special welfare assistants, so that the girls and women will feel safe and secure during night hours, they said.
A retired Health official said that women have now taken great strides to walk alongside men, even in the corporate world. "They have become more conscious and conscientious about their individuality and independence. But unfortunately that is being misused by some officials for their personal interests and government must ponder over these issues".
"As far as safety and security of women is concerned, that is not the same amongst all the departments, and to check that, CCTVs should be installed in all the hospitals, so that nothing untoward happens," said a doctor wishing anonymity. |
