Their lives are also precious
Gratitude is something rare in this country. The outbreak of Covid-19, and the fear it instilled in everyone, made the public realise the value of the much-maligned public health workers, who, unhesitatingly, took up the challenge of curbing the spread of the disease. When the battle began, they did not even have proper protective gear. They have received high praise for serving in a high-risk environment, and even come to be known as suwa viruvo (health sector heroes), but, sadly, not enough is being done to ensure their safety. Praise cannot protect these people who are risking their lives.
Public Health Inspectors (PHIs), who are leading the ongoing anti-Covid-19 operations, from the front, have expressed grave concern about their own safety. The PHIs, engaged in controlling the disease at Banaranaike Mawatha, Colombo, have threatened to stop their good work because the health authorities have refused to test them for Covid-19. It defies comprehension why their request has not been granted.
All vendors, at the Peliyagoda fish market, were tested for Covid-19, recently, following the detection of a single coronavirus infection among those who had visited the place. Hundreds of PCR tests were conducted there, and rightly so. That is the way to prevent cluster infections. Thankfully, none of them tested positive for Covid-19. But the PHIs, who helped detect dozens of patients, have not been tested! Are we to conclude that the health authorities consider the lives of fish vendors more precious than those of the PHIs and other health workers? Everything possible must be done to ensure the safety of PHIs. That is the least the country can do for them.
A large number of coronavirus infections have been detected in some areas, and all health workers, and the military and police personnel serving in those red zones must be tested for the virus, regularly. They run the risk of contracting the disease, and there is also the danger of others who associate with them getting infected.
The protesting PHIs have told this newspaper that a heath official informed them that they would be tested only if they developed Covid-19 symptoms. This unnamed official seems unaware that there are many asymptomatic Covid-19 carriers and only tests can help detect them. Let Health Minister Pavithra Wanniaracchi, and Director General of Health Services, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, be urged to order an inquiry into the PHIs’ compliant and ensure that they are tested immediately.
It may be recalled that some Navy personnel contracted Covid-19, after taking into custody a group of drug addicts and sending them for quarantine. They were not tested immediately afterwards. The disease spread to scores of naval ratings, and all of them are currently under quarantine. Some of them are said to be asymptomatic. All the military personnel on leave have been ordered to return to their camps, as a result. This problem wouldn’t have arisen if the armed forces and police personnel, engaged in anti-Covid-19 operations, had been tested for the disease and provided with proper protective gear. The same goes for all health workers.
What would be the situation if hundreds of those who battle the virus happened to be quarantined? Many doctors and nurses are among those who have died of Covid-19, in other countries. We must learn from their experience and take all precautions to avert such a situation.
It is incumbent upon the government to ensure the safety of all those engaged in the country’s war on coronavirus. They are risking their own lives and those of their family members. They must not be demoralized.
Gratitude is something rare in this country. The outbreak of Covid-19, and the fear it instilled in everyone, made the public realise the value of the much-maligned public health workers, who, unhesitatingly, took up the challenge of curbing the spread of the disease. When the battle began, they did not even have proper protective gear. They have received high praise for serving in a high-risk environment, and even come to be known as suwa viruvo (health sector heroes), but, sadly, not enough is being done to ensure their safety. Praise cannot protect these people who are risking their lives.
Public Health Inspectors (PHIs), who are leading the ongoing anti-Covid-19 operations, from the front, have expressed grave concern about their own safety. The PHIs, engaged in controlling the disease at Banaranaike Mawatha, Colombo, have threatened to stop their good work because the health authorities have refused to test them for Covid-19. It defies comprehension why their request has not been granted.
All vendors, at the Peliyagoda fish market, were tested for Covid-19, recently, following the detection of a single coronavirus infection among those who had visited the place. Hundreds of PCR tests were conducted there, and rightly so. That is the way to prevent cluster infections. Thankfully, none of them tested positive for Covid-19. But the PHIs, who helped detect dozens of patients, have not been tested! Are we to conclude that the health authorities consider the lives of fish vendors more precious than those of the PHIs and other health workers? Everything possible must be done to ensure the safety of PHIs. That is the least the country can do for them.
A large number of coronavirus infections have been detected in some areas, and all health workers, and the military and police personnel serving in those red zones must be tested for the virus, regularly. They run the risk of contracting the disease, and there is also the danger of others who associate with them getting infected.
The protesting PHIs have told this newspaper that a heath official informed them that they would be tested only if they developed Covid-19 symptoms. This unnamed official seems unaware that there are many asymptomatic Covid-19 carriers and only tests can help detect them. Let Health Minister Pavithra Wanniaracchi, and Director General of Health Services, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, be urged to order an inquiry into the PHIs’ compliant and ensure that they are tested immediately.
It may be recalled that some Navy personnel contracted Covid-19, after taking into custody a group of drug addicts and sending them for quarantine. They were not tested immediately afterwards. The disease spread to scores of naval ratings, and all of them are currently under quarantine. Some of them are said to be asymptomatic. All the military personnel on leave have been ordered to return to their camps, as a result. This problem wouldn’t have arisen if the armed forces and police personnel, engaged in anti-Covid-19 operations, had been tested for the disease and provided with proper protective gear. The same goes for all health workers.
What would be the situation if hundreds of those who battle the virus happened to be quarantined? Many doctors and nurses are among those who have died of Covid-19, in other countries. We must learn from their experience and take all precautions to avert such a situation.
It is incumbent upon the government to ensure the safety of all those engaged in the country’s war on coronavirus. They are risking their own lives and those of their family members. They must not be demoralized.
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