Eleven health care employees of Bharat Ratna Indira Gandhi Maternity Hospital at Mira Road have been infected with coronavirus infection. They have been hospitalized at Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Covid-19 Hospital in Bhayandar. However, the report of two employees is yet to come. Lack of proper measures and inadequate materials have increased the risk of infection to these employees.
Due to the shortage of medical staff, staffs from other departments are also providing medical services. The security guards are checking the temperature and SpO2 level of those coming for treatment.
“Simple masks instead of N-95 have been provided to the staff of maternity wards, dialysis centre and hospital staff. Gloves, PPE kits are not provided in adequate numbers. We are using the same kits for the whole day or two. Yet, we are doing our job without complaining. We are working at high risk here,” said employee, on the condition of name withheld.
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Hospital has been converted to the COVID-19 Hospital. Therefore, the maternity ward at the hospital is closed. So, the number of delivery in Indira Gandhi Hospital has increased. Similarly, many patients come for dialysis and OPD here. “However, COVID-19 testing of these incoming patients has not been carried out. Therefore, the risk of corona infection has increased as safety equipment is not provided to the employees,” said the employee.
The dialysis centre was forced to be closed down due to the COVID-19 positive patient was sent here for dialysis from Joshi Hospital. “Also the staffs get infected after they lifted the positive patient due to close down of the elevator. The negligence of the officials is increasing the stress on the employees,” he said.
MBMC Hiring staff on Contract
However, on Monday MBMC has issued a notification to fill the vacant post of health care employees like doctors, nurses, radiologist, technicians and pharmacists on a contract basis. “We have issued an advertisement to fulfil the vacant post the health care staffs on a Contract basis. There are 819 vacant posts in which 492 vacancies are for nurses. Six senior doctors whose salary will be Rs. 2,00,000 per month. While MBMC will appoint 14 physicians (on-call) and will be paid Rs. 2000 per visit,” informed Chandrakant Dange, Commissioner MBMC.
“Eighty-seven doctors with MBBS degree will be paid Rs. 80,000 while doctors (medical officers) with other branches of Ayurvedic, Unani and Homeopathy degree will be paid Rs 55,000 per month. However, nurses with nursing degrees will be hired at Rs 40,000 while with SSC and HSC will be paid Rs. 25,000 per month,” said Mr Dange.
Those who wanted to apply, they can visit the municipal corporation website for further information. The deadline for the application is 20/06/2020 until 5 PM.
“However, the hiring will be for the first 3 months or till the coronavirus infection dilution. No notice period will be given if the isolation ward will be closed down. The upper age limit for the applicant is 60 years,” said PRO Rajkumar Gharat.
Rs 15 crores granted for hospital
The Maharashtra government has sanctioned Rs 15 crore to set up a 1,000-bed COVID-19 hospital in Mira Bhayander, Ovala-Majiwada MLA Pratap Sarnaik said.
The work on the hospital, which will be housed in two halls, will start on Monday, and 376 beds will be available in the first phase, the Shiv Sena MLA said.
“206 beds will be provided in Pramod Mahajan Hall at Bhayandar East while 170 beds will be available in Meenatai Thackeray Hall in Mira Road. Work is in full swing and will be ready in a week,” he said.
