Nagpur: Despite increase in Covid-19 cases in the city, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) Zingabai Takli Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) had stopped collection of swab samples for the last two days and didn’t trace contacts.
Immediately after learning about the issue, mayor Dayashankar Tiwari paid a surprise visit to the UPHC and directed the administration to issue show-cause notice to the staff concerned.
As per NMC’s press release, Tiwari first spoke to the staff and inquired about the reasons. The staff said they stopped collecting swab samples as the hand gloves provided at the kiosk were damaged.
When mayor asked NMC medical officer Dr Sanjay Chilkar reason behind not providing new gloves, the latter said staff should have used PPE kit to take samples.
Tiwari then directed Dr Chilkar to issue show-cause notice to the staff for stopping swab collection and misleading the city’s first citizen. He also directed the UPHC staff to resume contact tracing.
According to Dr Chilkar, Zingabai Takli UPHC collects 10-15 swab samples in a day. “The staff should use PPE kit which is provided in sufficient numbers. Notices will be issued to the staff tomorrow,” he said.
The civic body had facilitated swab collection at 53 centres, including all UPHCs, from August. Covid-19 testing is done free of cost at the centres.
Dr Chilkar also said kiosk is necessary where large number of samples is collected. “Also, there was no written communication from the centre about hand gloves at kiosk being damaged,” he said.
Ruling party leader in NMC Sandip Jadhav accompanied Tiwari when he visited the UPHC.