KATHMANDU, MAY 31
The National Human Rights Commission has expressed serious concern about the situation created by the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that citizens have been deprived of their fundamental right to life and supply of essential medical services.
Issuing a press release, the rights watchdog has asked the government to ensure the right to health by ensuring timely treatment of COV- ID-19 patients across the country.
It has also urged the government to support daily wage earners and impoverished groups to manage their daily life by ensuring two meals a day for them.
Similarly, the constitutional body has asked the government to facilitate easy transportation of edible goods and export of agricultural produce of farmers in the country in a timely manner.
Having conducted a field survey in various parts of the country, the NHRC said that hospitals in districts such as Kaski, Morang and Jhapa were still reeling under the lack of oxygen cylinders, it asked the government to address the issue.
"Medicines needed for patients of asthma, diabetes and lifelong ailments are scarce in the country due to the prolonged prohibition order.
The government is requested to act immediately regarding the matter," the press release reads.
It has also expressed concern about placental abruption during regular checkups of pregnant women due to the ongoing situation.
The NHRC also pointed out that many people had got vaccinated in Province 1, while the elderly and frontline workers were deprived of it. It has asked the government to ensure that the health workers received timely salary and other benefits from the government.
Similarly, it has urged security agencies to provide safety and security to health workers and to ensure the safety of jailbirds to protect them from COVID-19.
A version of this article appears in the print on June 01, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
