Dimapur, August 8 (MExN): The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) on Sunday expressed concern on the prevalent situation of health crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Northeast India.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately affecting the indigenous/tribal peoples and the poor, exacerbating underlying structural inequalities combined with pervasive discrimination in access to health care and communications. The denial of basic human rights is severely limiting common people to respond to the global health crisis and has also led to increased mortality among rural women and non COVID patients,” an NPMHR statement said.
Referring to a maternal death case in Senapati wherein a pregnant woman died after being denied admission to a hospital earlier in the week, the NPMHR stated that “the criminal negligence and apathy by the different hospitals is a case of outright atrocity and injustice against the most vulnerable and marginalised section of people in the society.”
The NPMHR said that several cases have gone unreported and while appreciating the Manipur Government’s immediate response, added that “this is a symptom of decades of institutional apathy.”
“The brunt of this lockdown has affected the common people and those living in the margins,” it said, further pointing out the need for state administrations to emphasize on healthcare, small farmers and cultivators, and those people who are vulnerable especially widow, physically challenged, pregnant women, children and old aged people.
“It is pertinent for the government to give equal emphasis to non-COVID patient as well and their right to access the healthcare services should not be curtailed or limited by the imposition of harsh lockdown rules,” it added.
Calling upon the governments in the Northeast India to take urgent corrective measures to address the systematic inequalities and discrimination experienced by the indigenous/tribal peoples especially in the public services, it urged the governments to revive all non-functional health centres including dispensaries, primary health centres and sub-centres located in far flung areas and ensure that all medical personnel immediately join their place of posting.
It also urged the governments to give emphasis on maternity health, provide ambulances and ensure that all District Hospitals and Primary Health Centres have obstetrician/gynaecologists stationed.
It meanwhile demanded that Manipur government constitute an Enquiry Committee to look into all cases of maternal deaths. The Enquiry Committee should expand to include a retired judge, police inspector and a member of a reputed CSO, it said.
