Neyaz Elahi
Call it negligence or unprofessionalism, Block Medical Officer, Sheeri Baramulla here in North Kashmir entrusted Covid free discharge certificate to a Handwara youth with travel history in the morning and informed the same youth during evening hours that he is Covid positive.
The Handwara youth was shell-shocked while his family members who spent quality time with him at home virtually fainted when they were informed over phone that their son who was allowed to leave quarantine is Covid-19 positive and needs to be isolated.
A youth from Kralgund Hajin area of Handwara here in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district works with Google at Gurgoan city returned back on May 16 and was quarantined at a private school building in Baramulla. Why a traveler from Handwara was quarantined in Baramulla is a different tale showing yet again the unprofessionalism on part of Directorate of Health Services Kashmir and administration.
As per the family members of the youth who talked to news agency , Hamzah (name changed) was discharged from the quarantine centre in the morning of May 18. “Block Medical Officer Sheeri handed him over discharge certificate declaring him Covid-19 infection free and like others allowed him to go home. After BMO Langate refused to provide a vehicle for him, we somehow arranged a vehicle to bring him back from Baramulla quarantine centre to home at Karalgund Hajin.”
“Hamzah went straight to his aunt first and greeted her but didn’ta enter into her home. His uncle and cousins greet him and finally he reached his own home where his parents were jubilant on his arrival. The joy was double for them. They were meeting their son after a long time and besides, he was declared Covid-19 free.”
The jubilation turned into mourning when during late evening hours on the same day, BMO Langate called the family and urged them to get Hamzah isolated immediately as his report is found Covid-19 positive. BMO also asked family members to get self quarantined. Hamzah cooperated and reached Covid SDH Kupwara where he was admitted in isolation ward.
“The negligence on part of the BMO Sheeri baffled us all. How can you declare an infected person Covid free and allowed him to go home, mingle with people. This is disgusting. When we asked BMO Sheeri how he can do this, he was apologetic even claiming that his stamp on the discharge certificate has inadvertently inscribed by his Medical Assistant.”
Block Medical Officer Langate, Dr Gowhar Nabi said he did what he was asked to do. “I was asked to inform the family that ‘Hamzah’ is positive and I made a call, rest I don’t know,” he said.
Chief Medical Officer Baramullah, Dr Deeba feigned ignorance about the incident saying she will ascertain the facts.
Dr Farooq Ahmed, the Block Medical Officer, Sheeri Baramulla in question was really apologetic saying he has lot of distress and is working hard in this pandemic. “There were two persons of same name and same district quarantined in Baramulla and it all happened out of confusion,” Dr Farooq told news agency.
Pertinently, a pregnant woman from Reshipora Kralgund area of Handwara was recently declared negative for Covid-19, though she was later found positive. Over 21 members of her family were quarantined after health professionals realized their blunder. The lady is still in isolation in a government building in Handwara.
A couple of days back, BMO Magam Dr Taha was suspended for declaring a student Covid-19 free without waiting for his report. KNT
