The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Member of Parliament from Anantnag, (Retd) Justice Hasnain Masoodi, on Tuesday asked the government to ensure supply of RT-PCR, RAT testing kits and COVID shield vaccines at health facilities across south Kashmir areas which he rued are running out of supply of these indispensable items.
Masoodi who earlier today visited health facilities in various south Kashmir areas Including Khrew, Awantipora Tral, Wuyun, Pampore to learn about the quality of services being extended to the patients, came to know about the short fall of RT-PCR, RAT kits and COVID Shield Vaccines in SDH Pampore, PHC Avantipora, and Tral.
During his hours-long tour to the health facilities in the said areas, he interacted with medics and paramedical staff about the details pertaining to testing, facilities and measures to handle pandemic and instructed them to provide better services to the patients. The Member of Parliament also came across halt in the vaccination drive at PHC Avantipora and Tral due to the acute shortfall of COVID Shield vaccine.
Expressing concern over the glitches, he said the administration is duty-bound to ensure the availability of adequate staff and vaccines including testing kits at all health centers, which he said have unfortunately been left unattended. He said the objective of his visit to the health facilities in various south Kashmir areas is to get first-hand report of the availability of necessary staff, critical Covid drugs, and testing kits at these facilities most of which he said are running short of it.
While interacting with the patients in the health facilities, he enquired about their wellbeing and also about the conditions and facilities at the hospitals. He appreciated the efforts of the medics and Paramedics for their commendable job. “The local staff is doing a good job; but it is the short fall of required kits, critical drugs and other essentials medicines, which is hampering the treatment, testing as well as vaccination drive. The morale of our COVID warriors is high in these difficult times,” he said.
It is pertinent to mention that Masoodi had already released Rs 35 lacs from his MP LAD fund for the procurement of various life-saving and critical care machines at various health facilities in District Pulwama. In addition to that, the honorable MP has without fail raised the issues concerning the challenges faced by south Kashmir hospitals at all appropriate forums. He also presided over various review meetings with the concerned authorities on the procurement and availability of facilities at health facilities across south Kashmir districts.
In view of the shortfall of vaccines and required testing kits at SDH Pampore, and PHC Awantipora Tral, he impressed the divisional and district administration to address the issue on a priority basis to ensure that the ongoing battle against the viral sprawl is not slowed down at any point.
