ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Sep 14: Arunachal Pradesh has lost three frontline Covid-19 healthcare workers till date, all of whom died while discharging duties during the pandemic. 

 

Sangpuia Tayo was a contingency ambulance driver who died on July 4 last in a road accident at Namsai while returning from Dibrugarh on Covid duty and Salmi Sangdigouria who was serving as a sanitary assistant at the capital’s RKM Hospital lost her life after getting infected with the virus on 11 September last. On the same evening one more healthcare worker, Lalit Rijal, 50, who was serving as a Health Assistant at Primary Health Centre (PHC) Hollongi lost the battle to Covid at the ICU of Tezpur Medical College. But the state bulletin didn't mention the fatality that very day. However, in today's bulletin, his death has been mentioned as due to Septicemia with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and encephalopathy.

 

Meanwhile, the District Medical Officer, Papum Pare in an official communique while informing that Late Lalit’s name has been recommended for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) package (an insurance scheme for healthcare staffers fighting Covid-19) said the deceased had been working sincerely on Covid duties at the Hollongi check post from March 20 till August 5. Hailing from Gohpur, Lalit was infected with the virus and admitted at Tezpur Medical College for treatment. 

 

As per sources, there are no basic facilities even for the frontline workers manning the Hollongi check gate and also no proper arrangement for people testing positive after Rapid Antigen Test. The risk of getting infected has increased manifold for the frontline workers particularly after initiation of the unlock process which resulted in huge rush.

 

 

When contacted, a close colleague of Late Lalit and other staffers of PHC, Hollongi said Lalit was last seen on WhatsApp on September 4 when he informed that he was going to Tezpur for a medical check-up. According to them, on August 29 all the 24 staffers of the PHC now renamed as Health and Wellness Centre including Lalit and the ADC underwent testing and all results had come negative.

 

Meanwhile, all the staffers of PHC, Hollongi organised a condolence meeting to pay tribute to their departed colleague. The gathering remembered Late Lalit as an honest, selfless and hardworking Covid warrior.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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