DAMAULI, Feb 5: A dozen frontline health workers at Damauli Hospital in Tanahun district have handed over a memorandum to the Chief District Officer (CDO) demanding risk allowance for the service they rendered during the first and second wave of COVID-19.
The third wave of COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in the country. These frontline health workers serving on a contract basis in the Hospital complain that they have not been paid risk allowance for nearly 18 months despite promises made by the government.
In the memorandum, the health workers have called for positive intervention of the CDO to release their risk allowance. They have warned that they will not be able to continue their service if they are not provided with the risk allowance as pledged by the government for the frontline health workers during the first and the second wave of the pandemic.
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Frontline workers are at higher risks of COVID-19. The government had announced a risk allowance to frontline workers (health workers and security personnel, among others) serving amidst the hazardous atmosphere caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Medical officers Dr Astha Regmi, Dr Diwas Dhakal, Dr Puja Saiju and Dr Krishna Giri among those submitting the memorandum to CDO Bishwa Prakash Aryal.
Dr Sinjan Pandey shared that they had been prodding the Hospital Development Committee officials for risk allowance but to no avail. He said all the frontline health workers who risked their lives while providing treatment to the COVID-19 infected patients during the first, second and ongoing third wave were discouraged to work further as they were denied the allowance.
The memo also apologizes with the patients for the inconvenience that could cause to them if the disappointed doctors discontinue their services effective from February 6.
Damauli Hospital Chief Dr Sunil Poudel informed that efforts are being made to provide risk allowances and salaries to the health workers. He said that the issue emanated from the delay in the release of the budget from the concerned government body.
According to Dr Poudel, the Hospital management has already drawn the attention of the concerned agencies for the same. The Ministry of Finance released the salary of two medical officers in the Hospital while allowances for other health workers have not been released till date, he said.
(RSS)
