Doctors in Gilgit Baltistan protest as they lack PPEs to treat Covid-19 patients

Doctors treating Covid-19 patients demonstrated in front of the Chief Minister’s residential compound in Gilgit to seek immediate redressal of a host of problems they are enduring. Safety equipment while treating Covid-19 patients and security from all kinds of violence against healthcare staff are two key demands. While a large number of them have contracted the virus in the past few weeks owing to the absence of proper safety gear while attending patients, a whole lot of others have been targeted by an unruly mob for various reasons. Gilgit Baltistan had reported first clusters of Coronavirus as early as March after a number of pilgrims who had returned from Iran were found positive. But the authorities, who have forever acted callously in matters of this illegally occupied region, didn’t bother to address even this grave health crisis. It is not just the unavailability of the equipment they are fighting but the regional authorities who hold little or no sway in the higher political circles have been harassing them with threats of transfers and expulsions.