COVID-19 Update: Shortage Of Protective Kits For Healthcare Providers, Say Odisha Doctors

Bhubaneswar: There is an acute shortage of protective kits for doctors and healthcare service providers at the district level, the Odisha Medical Service Association (OMSA) has said.

“There are insufficient masks, sanitisers and PPE kits. So, there is a heavy chance of infection to healthcare providers. If that happens, we will enter stage III of the pandemic and that is very dangerous,” said OSMA in a letter to the Odisha government’s health department

According to OSMA doctors stage III of the pandemic will occur when a person or animal carrying the virus can produce sporadic cases or small clusters of disease in the population.

It has asked the health department to supply protective kits as soon as possible. With quite a few people arriving in the districts from inside the country and abroad, doctors and healthcare workers are functioning round-the-clock to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Odisha.

OSMA needs six important items and these are:

• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) N95 approved particulate respirator.
• 100% nitrile, powder free, latex free superior puncture and tear resistant HD gloves.
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved lightweight reusable indirect vented (splash proof) clear vision goggles.
• Biohazard bags with international biohazard signs, disposable boot covers, resistant to particulate and liquids, elastic top 17 inches high and gowns.