Shafat Malik
Bandipora, Dec 05 (KNS): Days after government announced compensation to the next of kin who died due to Covid-19 pandemic over the past two years, there have complaints about the mismanagement of Covid deaths in Gurez block of north Kashmir's Bandipora district.
Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), locals alleged that several persons, who have died of Covid-19 falling under health block of Gurez, have been left out from the official data maintained by the health authorities of the district.
They alleged that even as the persons, who have died due to Covid-19 and have been provided with Covid death certificates have been left out from the official list of Covid death in this block.
"Even as the persons who died of Covid-19 over the past two years in Gurez valley were buried as per Covid-19 SOPs and protocols, And the death certificates, issued to their kin, also mention that they have died of Covid-19, however, they have been left out of the official list," alleged, Arshad Hussain, a social activist from Gurez.
He said that they also helped these Covid-19 victims and their families during the pandemic and now today their name is nowhere in the official list. "It is unfortunate that after being treated as per Covid protocols and later buried under proper Covid-19 SOPs and guidelines, their name figures nowhere in the official date," he said.
Meanwhile, when contacted, block medical officer Gurez, Dr Tahira said that she will verify the matter and will resolve it soon.
"We have made a list of the persons who have died due to COVID19 and have sent the same to CMO office. After proper verification, this matter would be sorted," she said, while acknowledging that there was some issue regarding official data of the persons, but it will be rectified soon.
When contacted chief medical officer Bandipora, Dr Bashir said that a committee has been framed in after several such complaints were received from the area. "The issue is being looked into by the committee and they are in the process of verifying the facts so that the issue is resolved," he said. (KNS)