Karimpur, March 18: A medical team sent by the Nadia administration to examine four suspected patients with fever in Madhugari village of Karimpur-1 block had allegedly returned skipping the task claiming that they were not provided with any protective gears.
Sources said, the team comprising doctors and health staff from Karimpur block hospital arrived in the health unit of the local panchayat on Wednesday afternoon, where they summoned the panchayat officials and expressed their inability to visit the patients in their respective homes in Kachharipara area. The team members advised the panchayat officials to put the four patients in isolation at home for two weeks and to inform them in case their condition turns serious.
The incident has shocked the villagers, who later appraised the district administration about the apathy of the medical team. The incident caused much embarrassment to the district administration which rubbished the claim of insufficient protective gear.
Knowing about the incident Karimpur block medical officer (Health) Manisha Mandal personally led a team to the Kaccharipara village late in the evening and examined the four patients.
Sankar Mandal, a CPM leader, and Madhugari panchayat member said, “We urged them to visit the patients, but the team members expressed their inability as claiming not equipped with masks, gloves and other protective gears. They instead advised us to ensure the patients remain in home isolation for about two weeks and to inform them about their condition…”.
A patient who was scheduled to be examined said, “I was told to wait at home for the visit of the doctors. But none had come. The panchayat officials later came and advised me to stay inside the home”.
Rabin Roy, a doctor attached to Karimpur hospital, who led the team, however, refused to speak when asked by this correspondent. “I am busy in other works now”, Roy summarily said before snapping the connection. Repeated calls to his mobile later remained unanswered.
Karimpur 1 block development officer Anupam Chakraborty, however, refuted the claim of the medical team about the absence of protective gear for health staff. “There is a sufficient supply of all types of protective gears required for the health officials. I don’t know why the team returned”.
BMOH and superintendent of Karimpur block hospital Manisha Mandal said, “I don’t know what led them to return. I was in a meeting in Tehatta and came to know about the incident late in the afternoon and sent another medical team to the village to examine the villagers. We cannot take any risk in such a situation”.
The district administration meanwhile contemplating to initiate an inquiry into the incident.