PPE sought for healthcare heroes

A rights organisation yesterday sent a legal notice to four government officials, requesting them to provide necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and medicine to doctors, nurses and health workers of all government hospitals in three days in line with the High Court's March 22 directives in a bid to properly treat coronavirus patients.

Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) sent the notice to Health Secretary Md Asadul Islam, Additional Health Secretary (Hospitals) Md Shirajul Islam, Director General of Directorate General of Health Services Prof Dr Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad, and Director of Central Medicine Store Department Brig Gen Shahidullah through emails.

Advocate Manzill Murshid, who served the notice on behalf of HRPB, told The Daily Star that he will move a contempt of court petition before the HC against the four officials if they don't comply with the notice.

Following a writ petition filed by HRPB, the HC on March 22 ordered the health secretary to purchase/procure/collect the PPE, surgical mask, gloves, shoe covers, gowns, sanitiser and other necessary equipment in seven days for treatment of coronavirus patients. The HC asked the officials concerned of the government to send all those to doctors, nurses and staff members for their safety .

In the legal notice, Murshid said healthcare providers are reportedly facing a shortage of PPE. Not providing PPE to them is a violation of the HC directives and also a contempt of court.