Editor,
It is commendable that the ‘corona warriors’ are at the forefront in this battle against the Coronavirus. It is lamentable though that stigmatisation perpetrated by paranoid citizens, particularly against doctors and nurses across the country, have manifested over the past few months in the social and mainstream media. Our hearts go out to those caregivers and their families who’re doing their job with utmost sincerity, yet are subjected to opprobrium and ridicule. But what confounds some of us here in Tura is the attitude of a few so-called ‘valorous’ doctors of Tura Civil Hospital (TCH) where the virus is yet to wreak havoc.
It’s understood that a government notification requires TCH to function as a “dedicated hospital” for focused treatment of persons infected with the coronavirus.But being the biggest health centre in Garo Hills, most Achik Mande have no other choice but to seek treatment in it. However, the attitude of some doctors, who sprint to private clinics after their OPD time is over, reeks of utter negligence and disregard for the infirm carrying other ailments. A case in point occurred recently when it was made known that a young doctor refused to even touch a patient who was barely able to sit or stand. The doctor is such an expert that medicines were prescribed from the confines of a comfortable cushioned chair without even examining the patient. It would have been gratifying for the sick person had at least a pretentious show of concern was exhibited. The patient was understood to have been mortified and not amused by the unprofessionalism. The doctor was perhaps hesitant for fear of being infected by the dreaded virus.
When the entire Garo Hills region hasn’t registered even a single Covid19 case, why are these doctors so apprehensive to even touch and examine patients? What will happen to people here if positive cases are detected? Doesn’t this prove that such people don’t trust the mechanism that has been put in place by the government to detect Covid19 cases? What a shame! Through this epistle I hope the determination of the caregivers to treat the Achik kindred wholeheartedly will be rekindled so that they may live up to that Hippocratic Oath!
Yours etc.,
Rikrak K. Sangma
Tura
Quarantine Violaters
Editor,
There has been much heartburn about the 400 odd returnees who have violated home quarantine rules since they returned to Meghalaya. These wrongdoers have broken the cardinal rule of home isolation. We may endlessly debate the need for lockdown and it rules, but once a government order is notified, we need to comply as good citizens. In times like these especially, we must remember that we are members of a community.
If there are penalties for quarantine violation, these must be handed down. But in dealing with these transgressors we could ascertain whether the rules were clearly understood. With so much publicity, it’s hard to imagine that some have not grasped the strictures of quarantine, but they may be a few who may think, for example, that they can go out to get food supplies. Some may have difficult home situations, such as crowded slum tenements, and may need help.
The answer to home quarantine violation is not institutional quarantine. For the sake of a few, why should all returnees be incarcerated in a building where arrangements may not be optimal. From what we have been reading, quarantine centres are struggling with meals, toilets, personal safety and other challenges. Many detainees have tried to run away and some have succeeded.
To expect village dorbars to make proper arrangements is a big ask. It is hard to covert classrooms in a school building: beds and linen will have to be provided, toilets and dining facilities set up. We all know the poor infrastructure of most village schools.To monitor these centres and the compliance of the isolated individuals will be difficult.
At the same time, let’s remember that inter-person transmission is highest within household contacts.
Glenn C. Kharkongor,
Via email
Institutional quarantine a must
Editor,
It came as no surprise for me and perhaps many others when I read the news item “Home Quarantine Comes a Cropper” ( ST- May16, 2020) For many thinking people it was a foregone conclusion that there would be rampant violation of quarantine as soon as thousands of returnees arrive in the state (this should not be construed that we don’t want them to return. In fact we welcome them). In this regard I had earlier communicated my concerns in these columns a few times, the latest being a letter, “Quarantine Violation ” (ST-May 15, 2020).
Many are also not shocked by the lackadaisical attitude of our administration during the present crisis, for, over the years we have seen that it has always been a few steps behind any problem and is also prone to come up with one excuse or another for its many goof ups. In the present instance, in an attempt to somewhat escape criticism of its monumental failure the Government has issued a statement that the quarantine violators have been, “counseled” and that they have ” regretted “their action.” Pray, what good is counselling and regret after many lives have been endangered? Is this not another case of locking the gates after the horses have bolted? Having said this, the pertinent point is that in Meghalaya hardly anyone of us respects the law. We only fear it!. Hence there is a crying need to institute appropriate punitive action against quarantine violators for they endanger not only the lives of their loved ones but many other lives in the community. Their callousness is nothing less than criminal! After all several states in our country have done this.
Another point that would astonish any average person is the attempt of the Government to pass the buck to, “local authorities.” What does the government mean by “local authorities?” Does it include the Dorbar Shnong? If it includes the Dorbar Shnong then I would like to say that as someone actively involved in one of the dorbars, our locality did not receive prior information about any returnee who came back to our locality. If localities are informed at least 2-3 days before, it would have helped us in making whatever preparations possible within our constraints.
But, however chaotic the present situation may seem to be, we see hope in the efforts of our District Council CEM and also the Chairman, Grand Council of Chiefs to convince the government on the need for Institutional Quarantine of all returnees without of course forgetting the initiative of a public spirited citizen from Nongkrem who has approached our Hon’ble High Court to make Institutional Quarantine compulsory for all returnees. Surely, the Government can make use of its educational institutions and government-aided school buildings as Covid Centres in addition to existing ones. Even private schools like Sacred Heart Girls’ HS School are allowing their premises to be used as quarantine centres, to name only one.
To conclude, there is one other point that is perhaps worthy to ponder upon and that is the experiences of our neighbouring states like Assam, Manipur, Tripura ,etc vis-à-vis their own returnees. These states through their use of multiple testing on each individual returnee detected at least one or two positive cases in every few batches of returnees which has prevented any major spread of Covid-19 in these states. The relevant question here is whether we are using all the means at our disposal to detect positive or asymptomatic cases?
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Via email