I-Day gift for Covid warriors: Now, health workers can return home on rotational basis

GUWAHATI: Starting from this Independence Day, health workers engaged in the battle against Covid-19, many of who have not been able to meet their families for months, will be able to go home more regularly. The state health department on the eve of Independence Day adopted a policy for these health workers based on which they will now be able to return home for a break of two-three days on a rotational basis. On an overall basis, doctors and health workers can now enjoy four to five days of ‘home rest’ every month.
“From this Independence Day, we will start considering the pleas of health workers to return home to meet their family members. Subsequently, all health workers will get this opportunity but on a rotational basis. Everybody won’t be given off on the same day in a hospital. However, we have planned out the things in such a way that all the health workers engaged in Covid fight will get a chance to visit their homes for two-three days,” National Health Mission, Assam director Lakshmanan S told TOI.
As per the existing policy, health workers are sent to quarantine facilities for four days after 10 days of continuous work. If they test negative, they resume their duties once again. But this practice has exhausted many health workers who have not gone to meet their families for months now.
Lakshmanan said every health worker will get a chance of visiting their homes but the rotational plan will be decided by their immediate authorities in the respective districts and hospitals.
“The policy will be implemented starting from the Independence Day. The government has always been concerned about the huge pressure on the health staff. But in a war-like situation, you have to press everyone into service. Slowly, we have to allow them to meet their families,” he added.
A review meeting of the senior health officials was chaired by state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma this week during which the issue of allowing the health workers to return home on a rotational basis was discussed. According to health department sources, over 10,000 doctors, nurses and other health staffers are engaged in Covid-19 duty in Assam, for whom the new policy will be applicable.
Sources in the health department said that intensive Covid testing, with a target of one lakh tests per day, was set prior to Independence Day celebrations. This might offer some relaxation to health staff on Independence Day and the following two days.
“Despite the relaxation plans, the policy of tracing the contacts and treating the positive patients will continue,” said a source in the health department.
Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) Assam chapter has welcomed the policy to allow the health workers to return home on a rotational basis. “This will energize the health staff, many of whom may have got exhausted while being on non-stop Covid duty for a long time. But before sending the Covid warriors home, they must be properly tested so that not even a single case of infection spreads from from the health workers to their family members,” said IMA state president Satyajit Borah.