BBC:
Coronavirus: India doctors 'spat at and attacked'
By Vikas PandeyBBC News, Delhi
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Indian doctors have been working extra hours to halt the spread of the coronavirus Image copyright MAJORITY WORLD Image caption |
Several healthcare workers in India have been attacked as they battle to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Reports say doctors have been spat at and chased away from homes, and that in one case patients directed abusive and vulgar language towards female nurses.
Some physicians and their families have also been ostracised by their neighbours because of their exposure to patients infected with Covid-19.
Some physicians and their families have also been ostracised by their neighbours because of their exposure to patients infected with Covid-19.
India has reported more than 2,300 cases and at least 50 people have died.
One video, which has gone viral, showed a mob throwing stones at two female doctors wearing personal protective equipment in the central city of Indore.
The doctors had gone to a densely-populated area to check on a woman suspected of having Covid-19 when they came under attack.
"We were on our usual round to screen suspected cases," she told the BBC. "We never thought that we would be attacked."
"I had never seen scenes like that. It was frightening. We somehow fled from the mob. I am injured but not scared at all."
Dr Sayed added: "We had no reason to suspect that people would be agitated against medical teams."
"We are working to keep people safe. We had information about a person coming in contact with a Covid-19 patient. We were talking to the person when residents got agitated and attacked us."
Seven people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Dr Anand Rai, who is also a part of the Covid-19 taskforce in Indore, told the BBC: "Nothing can justify the attack against medical team. But it happened in a Muslim-dominated area where there is general distrust against the government."
He said the area had recently witnessed protests against a controversial new citizenship law.
"So that anger spilled over and took the form of this attack. But whatever maybe the reason, nothing can justify violence, especially against doctors during a national health emergency," he added.
One video, which has gone viral, showed a mob throwing stones at two female doctors wearing personal protective equipment in the central city of Indore.
The doctors had gone to a densely-populated area to check on a woman suspected of having Covid-19 when they came under attack.
Despite being injured, one of the doctors seen in the video, Zakiya Sayed, said the incident "won't deter me from doing my duty".
"We were on our usual round to screen suspected cases," she told the BBC. "We never thought that we would be attacked."
"I had never seen scenes like that. It was frightening. We somehow fled from the mob. I am injured but not scared at all."
Dr Sayed added: "We had no reason to suspect that people would be agitated against medical teams."
"We are working to keep people safe. We had information about a person coming in contact with a Covid-19 patient. We were talking to the person when residents got agitated and attacked us."
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Doctors have been abused and attacked in different parts of India Image copyright HINDUSTAN TIMES Image caption |
Seven people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Dr Anand Rai, who is also a part of the Covid-19 taskforce in Indore, told the BBC: "Nothing can justify the attack against medical team. But it happened in a Muslim-dominated area where there is general distrust against the government."
He said the area had recently witnessed protests against a controversial new citizenship law.
"So that anger spilled over and took the form of this attack. But whatever maybe the reason, nothing can justify violence, especially against doctors during a national health emergency," he added.
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kaytee notes:
Chinese saying: Samaritans being struck by lightning
does the indian hv a saying samaritans being warned by ccp to shut up?
ReplyDeleteMfer, keep spinning lah!
DeleteIt time is near & don't forget not to invoke for 'defective' face mask & other ppe. Yr danger pal's god is omnipotent. Ask his help instead!
Hehe...this OCBC sudah di jangkit with the 'CCP Obsession'. It's like an incurable rash..the more he scratched, the more it bleeds. Quite amusing seeing his inability to contain himself..like a panting doggie waiting at the door and at the very first instance, rushes in headlong to yelp CCP this, CCP that, no matter what the issue or topic in discussion, hehe. Pathetic...
Delete