108 Ambulance hesitantly providing services

By Shivanjali Verma :

The 108 operating staff are not openly denying any patients of providing services. But they keep the patients to wait for hours and sometimes do not turn up at all

At the time when it is important that essential and non-pandemic services should reach the needy patients to avoid panic amidst public, laxity being displayed in the part of few agencies concerned with health arena, puts all other departments in dilemma and patients to hang between uncertainties. These agencies are hesitantly performing their duties following the threat of COVID-19. A glaring evidence of this inadequacy is reflected in the denying response of 108 ambulance service to serve the patients. The 108 operating staff are not openly denying any patients of providing services. But they keep the patients to wait for hours and sometimes do not turn up at all.

As usual, the poor patients are bearing the brunt of this laxity as they are unable to approach the hospital for treatment and sometimes it costs lives. Inayat Ali from Gareeb Nabaj Committee disclosed about two such incidents when the severely ailed patients contacted 108 ambulance to reach the hospital but the operating staff didn’t responded. A 55-year old man at Noori Nagar Adhartal underwent paralytical attack but the 108 didn’t turned up to carry him to the hospital.

Same incident happened with 40-year old Guddu driver of Panchkuiyan area of Shastri ward. He was suffering from high fever, cough and cold and despite making many calls to 108 service, no one approached them. Even Collector Bharat Yadav mentioned about unavailability of 108 drivers, doctors, nursing and paramedical staff who are with essential services in the ongoing crisis. He also appealed these staff to make their services available to strengthen the fight against COVID-19.