Student Nurses Allege Being Forced To Perform Coronavirus Duties Without Precautions

Dozens of student nurses in Rahim Yar Khan have refused to perform duties during the coronavirus emergency and held a protest against Shaikh Zayed Medical College Hospital (SZMCH)’s administration for forcing them to perform duty without taking any precautionary measures in their hostel to protect the them from the coronavirus pandemic.

DAWN reported that more than 60 nursing students gathered in front of their hostel, holding banners and placards and chanting slogans against the administration of SZMCH.

“We are being forced to stay in the hostel and to perform duties with other staff nurses despite being students,” the students complained. The protesters alleged that during their protest, Deputy Medical Superintendent Ilyas Ahmed with security guards misbehaved with them.

The newspaper quoted SZMCH focal person Rana Ilyas Ahmed, as saying that Punjab DG nursing had issued a letter, directing the student nurses to perform duties in hospital due to coronavirus emergency.

I did not misbehave with any student nurse but only stopped them from making videos on their mobile phones,” Rana Ilyas said.