Pregnant women have been told to refrain from going to work to avoid the risk of corona, but in most cases this is not being done. Pregnant health workers have to provide services to patients even in hospitals.
Experts fear that the risk of pregnant mothers in such a situation will increase for several times. However, the Directorate of Health Services said action would be taken if such allegations were received.
Meanwhile, the area-based lockdown is being renewed after an unannounced lockdown for more than two months in a row. However, government and private offices are open as usual. At this time, the presence of 25 percent officers and employees in the office has been confirmed in the government notification. It specifically refrains childbearing women from attending their jobs.
But this rule is not being followed even in designated covid-19 hospitals. There is no response to the applications for maternity leave. As a result, the female health workers, including obstetricians, are providing treatment with the risk of infection of their own.
One pregnant doctor said, “I’m pregnant, I can’t drink water. I can’t go to the washroom. There is a vomiting tendency. After these my breathing is getting thicker. These are not normal duties. We are most at risk of infection. Once infected, we may not have mild infections like others. The application for leave has already been submitted for three times.
Nurses are at higher risk for direct contact with corona patients. Even then they are going with the service.
“We’re on duty,” said one pregnant nurse. I am pregnant, now it is a risk for me to continue my duty.
Husband of one of the victims, a nurse, said that if she had stayed at rest during her pregnancy, she would not have had an abortion. But in the corona situation in the country, duty in the hospital is compulsory. Due to this anxiety, she had an abortion.
Experts believe that pregnant mothers should not work in Covid Hospital in such a critical situation.
Obstetric and Gynecological Society of Bangladesh (OGSB) President Prof. Samina Chowdhury said that pregnancy is definitely a sensitive condition. Those who work at Covid Hospital do so with great anxiety.
The DGHS has warned to take action if there are allegations of forcing a pregnant health worker to work.
Director of the DGHS (Hospital and Clinic) said. Md. Aminul Hasan said that decision about the pregnant health workers will be taken after discussing with the director. If it is still not possible, instructions would be given to everyone in this regard. “In fact, we will take action if we get any complain”, he said.
So far, more than a thousand doctors and about a thousand nurses in the country have been infected with the coronavirus.
