AIIMS Nurses' Union threatens indefinite strike over lack of facilities amid COVID crisis

Amid COVID-19 crisis, AIIMS Nurses' Union has decided to go on mass casual leave on June 10 over ir demands for better facilities at workplace. If ir demands are t met, Union will go for an indefinite strike from June 15, said Harish Kajla, President of AIIMS nurses union on Wednesday. move comes as  number of workers infected by COVID-19 at hospital in New Delhi rose to 329 including 47 nursing staff.

' ministration has failed to listen to us'

It was third consecutive day of protest by AIIMS nurses, demanding better working facilities for nursing staff, especially women nurses, who are deputed for longer hours in COVID-19 area. Kajla has written a letter to director of institute citing his concerns and threatening ministration about mass casual leave on June 10 and indefinite strike from June 15 if ir demands or grievances are t dressed.

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"We don't want to go on strike in se difficult times of COVID, but it seems that ministration has failed to listen to us," he said. "Nurses are severely affected by long working hours (exceeded up to 7 to 8 hours) while wearing PPE kits in Coronavirus departments. Conditions of women nurses are largely affected. We are demanding better facilities at workplace for our nurses who are backbone for our medical institute," he said.

"Our demands include: implementation of uniform 4 hours duty with PPE in COVID areas, safety of female nurses, uniform rotation policy between COVID and n-COVID areas, establishment of proper donning and doffing area, refreshment after doffing, display of duty roster, shuttle service during night shift, provision of ambulance facility for COVID screening/COVID positive staff among ors," said Kajla ding that re is response from ministration.

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However, AIIMS authorities have claimed that ne of healthcare workers was infected with virus during patient care.  AIIMS Medical Superintendent Dr. DK Sharma said, "329 healthcare workers have so far contracted coronavirus since February 1. Several of those who h tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered and rejoined duty."

So far three persons from AIIMS staff succumbed to COVID-19. An electrician who h tested positive for disease died on Sunday. A sanitation supervisor and a mess worker at RPC canteen died due to disease last week.

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(With ncy inputs)