Doctor attacked during COVID-19 screening lauds ordinance

Indore, Apr 23 () A doctor pelted with stones whilescreening residents of a locality here earlier this month, onThursday welcomed the ordinance to protect healthcare workerson the frontline of the fight against coronavirus from acts ofviolence.

Trupti Katdare was part of the team trying to trace aperson who came into contact with a COVID-19 patient. Unfazedby the attack, Katdare and another doctor Zakiya Sayyed hadreturned to the same spot the next day to resume the screeningwork.

"The new legal provision is a good step by thegovernment and will definitely help millions of health workerslike me in the battle against COVID-19. I am happy with thisprovision," Katdare, 40, told .

"Everyone should understand that every health workerfighting COVID-19 is working to save the lives of others,disregarding their own," she said.

On Tuesday, she was in the same Tatpatti Bakhal areawhere she was attacked earlier, presenting saplings to 48residents who returned to their homes after spending 14 daysin quarantine.

Health workers and police personnel in Indore havesuffered from non-cooperation, misbehavior, threats andattacks in various incidents during the past one month. Videosof many such incidents have also gone viral on social media.

Indore is among the districts most affected by thecoronavirus outbreak in the country. According to officialinformation, 945 COVID-19 patients have been found in thedistrict till Thursday morning. Of these, 53 people have diedduring treatment, while 77 patients have been discharged fromhospitals after recovery.

The government on Wednesday issued the EpidemicDiseases (Amendment) Ordinance, making acts of violence andharassment against healthcare personnel deployed in combatingCOVID-19 a non-bailable offence with maximum punishment ofseven years imprisonment and Rs 5 lakh fine.

The ordinance will protect the healthcare fraternity,including doctors, nurses and ASHA workers. HWP MAS VTVT VT