John Wilbert & Gracy Tripathy
Port Blair, September 21: While the condition and management of COVID Care Centers at Port Blair have significantly improved after South Andaman District Administration, started daily monitoring, in Little Andaman’s COVID Care Center things are the other way round.
COVID-19 positive patients in the Little Andaman ALHW guest house, which is the designated COVID Care Center, are now complaining that they have been asked to pay for the food.
As per detail due to lack of clear cut directions in this regard, the COVID-19 patients are being asked to pay for food.
When contacted a senior official of Little Andaman, said that, officials from Health Department have directed them to collect money for the food from the COVID-19 patients. However, when cross checked with the officials of Health Department, they confirmed that no such direction has been given in this regard.
At present there are around nine people in COVID Care Center of Little Andaman, out of which seven are positive. There are also small children among the patients, who need utmost care but it seems that due to confusion now these patients are forced to ask family people to bring food from home, which is practically not possible all the time.
“My husband brings me food from the house daily, which gets cold by the time it reaches here. Moreover the risk for my husband getting infected, is another factor. As per the health guidelines, it is important for the COVID-19 positive patients to have warm food, therefore if they cannot provide free food then at least provide us with an induction stove so that we may feed our children properly,” said a patient.
COVID-19 patients are also urging the Administration to send them to home isolation if the Administration can’t provide free food to them.
