Landlords harass B. Borooah Cancer Institute staff suspecting virus carriers

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: What can be termed as an unfortunate development a section of landlords are harassing employees and health workers of B. Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) on the ground that the latter might be carrier of COVID-19. These landlords are now demanding the BBCI staff members to produce proofs of their non-infection status to continue to stay at rented accommodations.

The development has come after detection of a case where a 16-year old girl, the granddaughter of a safai (cleaning) worker from BBCI was tested COVID-19 positive after her death. The cancer institute will now remain shut for a few days as many employees and staff who had come in contact with the health worker have undergo test and quarantine to contain the spread of the virus.

A worried BBCI director Dr Amal Chandra Kataki told The Sentinel on Friday that the development is very unfortunate and it might demoralize all staff members of his institute who are serving cancer patients amidst lockdown and COVID-19 threat. He appealed to the administration and police to initiate actions against such erring landlords.

"If such harassment continues, many health workers and nursing staff members might stop coming to BBCI. It will be chaotic situation then. So I appeal all landlords to cooperate in this critical juncture," Dr Kataki said.

On other hand, the BBCI has decided to discontinue its OPD service for some days. "Barring emergency and treatment of admitted patients, the institute will not be able to offer other services. Our doctors, nurses and health workers will have to be very careful now since they are treating cancer patients," Dr Kataki said.

The number of daycare emergencies rose more than four times from 60 patients in the 31 working non-lockdown days to 236 patients during the lockdown. The number of new admissions also increased from 983 in the non-lockdown period to 1,058 during the lockdown period.

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