Yudhvir Sethi slams Govt. for mishandling second wave of COVID-19

Warns Health Deptt of third wave of Covid in offing

JAMMU: J&K BJP Vice-President and Incharge Covid management, Yudhvir Sethi on Thursday slammed government for not doing enough to contain the alarming surge in Coronavirus cases despite knowing that second wave will be more dangerous while addressing a Press Conference at party headquarter, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.
Yudhvir Sethi flanked by BJP State Media Incharge Dr. Pardeep Mahotra, Arun Prabhat (Yuva Morcha President), BJP Convener Health and Media Cell Puneet Mahajan and State Executive Member Nitish Mahajan expressed grave concern on the way the J&K Administration was handling the COVID-19 crisis emanating out of alarming second wave.
Criticizing administration for making the CD Hospital a Triage Centre, he said that it is a big mistake as this will waste lot of time of COVID patients putting their lives at risk. He said that the time is precious in the case of new strains of coronavirus and by this time consuming procedure of bringing patients first to CD Hospital and then shift them to other covid dedicated hospitals is sheer absurdity and will prove out to be perilous. He said there is dire of need of specialists who are able to deal with Covid-19 management cases and also able to take decision while referring the patients.
“In absence of oxygen facility in the CD hospital asking patients to first visit this place itself is like signing the death warrants of the serious patients of covid-19,” Sethi said.
The senior BJP leader expressed resentment that the medical department has done nothing in equipping itself to cater to the needs of the people despite the COVID wreaked havoc in the entire region for more than one year. This really is criminal on the part of government. “The Mechanical Wing of health department has miserably failed in doing its job of providing hassle free oxygen to the patients in the GMC and its associated hospitals,” he added.
Amidst the surge in Covid-19 cases due to which more than four thousands cases are reported on daily basis for the last few days, Sethi said that government should call the pass out nursing students to take their services till the time the crisis is over.
“There are so many government buildings which can be converted into health facilities. The services of Medical & Paramedical unemployed graduates as well as students can also be utilized in such make-shift health facilities for treating patients having mild symptoms thus reducing the pressure on the main hospitals”, he said, adding that the second wave of Covid-19 seems like a psychological war. So, as soon as possible we are able to provide medical service to the people by using the services of Medical & Paramedical graduates as well as students, only then we will win the battle against pandemic.
The senior BJP leader also raised the issue of black marketing of oxygen cylinders, oxy meters and the medicines which are considered as Sanjeevani in the present context. He said that the administration has turned benumb towards such sad state of affairs and is looking at things as a mute spectator.
“There is dire need that the Health Department should release Bulletin on daily basis so that general public should have a clear picture about occupancy and availability of beds in hospitals during any exigency. It is the need of the time that government should come up with at least 2000 bedded COVID-19 hospital with all the required facilities including uninterrupted oxygen supply to make robust infrastructure ahead of third wave of the contagion as predicted by some of the experts in the field,” Sethi added.
Yudhvir Sethi said that the reports of rise in transmission of this infection in rural hamlets is alarming issue as the same will have dangerous repercussions especially in absence of proper health facilities out there. He said that the situation currently in the J&K UT is quite chaotic as administration seems to be indifferent towards the plight of people and is not doing enough to stop the virus from harming the people.
“In absence of popular government, it’s the responsibility of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to take note of hardships being faced by the common masses”, he said and appealed to the Lt Governor to direct the Administrative Officers of J&K to ensure liaison with public representatives so that this crisis should be resolved unitedly and amicably.
The senior BJP leader appealed to the Administration to take help of medical experts who have been superannuated to deal with the situation in a better manner. He also appealed to the Lt Governor to note of that the Narayan Super Speciality Hospital are not taking patient for the few days due to which people are facing huge hardships.
While appreciating the Lt. Governor for announcing allowances for frontline healthcare workers, Sethi demanded the same allowances should also be announced for backend warriors of Health Department.
He also demanded to improve 108 Ambulance Service as presently it was not providing adequate services. He also asked the government to take services of army medical corps in tackling Coronavirus. The senior BJP leader asserted that this is not the time to sit on things rather a dynamic approach is needed to wipe out disease from the country.

Sethi emphasized that the approach of government in tackling corona is dismal and if the things are not accelerated prudently the situation will get even worse.