Lahore, 15th April: COVID-19, popularly known as a coronavirus, emerged from Wuhan, China in Dec 2019 and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11th March 2020.
As of 15th April 2020, more than 1.99 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in 210 countries, resulting in more than 127,000 deaths. More than 500,000 people have recovered, although there may be a possibility of relapse or reinfection.
Authorities worldwide have responded by implementing travel restrictions, quarantines, curfews and stay-at-home orders, workplace hazard controls, and facility closures. The pandemic has led to severe socio-economic disruption including postponing or cancellation of many sports, religious and cultural events worldwide.
The countries that are hardest hit by the virus after China include, the US, the UK, Italy, France, Spain, and Iran. India and Pakistan are also showing an increase in the number of coronavirus cases.
Lockdown eased, industries and businesses partially restored
It is the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir that have to face the worst conditions amid the pandemic. According to the doctors there, Kashmir, which is under a curfew since August is ill-equipped to face the pandemic.
A strict curfew on Occupied Kashmir began in August 2019 by the Indian Government, restricting all kinds of movement and erecting barriers to control the movement. Thus Kashmiris were already facing the worst lockdown of the history and then came COVID-19, to further put a halt to their activities.
Restrictions on the movement and assembly of people in Kashmir to contain the spread of coronavirus were tightened on Sunday the 5th of April, a day after 14 cases, the highest increase in a single day, were detected in the valley, the officials said.
The real problem lies with the hospitals and the lack of medical facilities in them to treat the virus patients. There is an acute shortage of doctors and paramedical staff in the Occupied region. The area lacks the proper health facilities and protective equipment for the patients.
The patients kept in quarantine are unable to get the face masks and as reported by Baaghi before, a single soap bar is handed over for 14 patients who are using one washroom.
Pandemic dilemma for COVID-19 patients in IOK
The hospitals in Kashmir, which are ill-equipped in normal situations, lack the emergency facilities to treat the coronavirus patients. N 95 masks and protective suits (PPE) are available for only a few doctors, while most of them and the nurses are only using the facial masks, surgical gowns, gloves, and a cap to protect themselves against the contagious disease.
The doctors fear to go to their homes in such conditions, as they are the probable carriers of the disease and if they get infected then their whole team will have to be quarantined.
Ashok Swain, An Indian Professor of Peace and Conflict Research in Sweden has pointed out the terrible conditions of Kashmiris amid the pandemic and raises a big question, aren’t they any humans?
https://twitter.com/ashoswai/status/1250348416565051396?s=20
He tweeted on his Twitter account after the Modi Government announced sacking 250 nurses employed in five Government Medical Colleges in Kashmir.
This is indeed a very crucial step for the people of Kashmir, who are already facing atrocities carried out by the Indian Troops and now COVID-19, threatening their lives and safety. When the whole world is in dire need of medical doctors and nurses, the Indian PM cuts down the number of para-medic staff for our Kashmiri brothers. What kind of justice is being carried in the Occupied valley?
Baaghi TV urges the readers to lend their support and raise their voice for Kashmiri brothers and sisters who are facing severe brutalities at the hands of the Indian Government.
Stay tuned to Baaghi TV for more updates!
