Police Protection For Health Staff

After an ‘Asha’ health worker was attacked in a minority-dominated area in Bengaluru, the state government has decided to provide police protection to them during their survey of Covid-19 suspect cases.

Health Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey said the work of Asha staff cannot be ignored as they are in the field executing difficult assignments.

Pandey visited Sadiq Palya, where an Asha health worker was attacked on Wednesday.

He said, “I would like to congratulate the health workers for the outstanding work that they are doing during this time of crisis. We have not added a large number of cases and the credit goes to the health workers. It is our duty to protect and support our frontline workers. The Health Department takes it upon itself to ensure maximum protection to these health workers and to ensure their safety.”

After visiting a few of the areas, Pandey said: “Today I visited the area where the Asha worker was attacked, to engage with health workers doing contact tracing and boost their morale and encourage them to continue the good work that they are doing, and to express the Health Department’s solidarity with them. I will be also be visiting other places in the city in the days to come.” He added, “I request people to allow Asha workers to help you. We will come down very heavily on anyone who attacks or threatens health workers. They are frontline soldiers and we will protect them to the maximum extent.”

Health staff insured for Rs 50 lakh

Pandey said that all classes of health workers on the field, whether private or government, are eligible for health insurance of Rs 50 lakh under the Prime Minister’s relief package. To ensure that there iare enough medical personnel available to fight the pandemic, personnel due for retirement in March have been given a three-month extension and the state is working on filling vacant posts in the healthcare system.