Fight against COVID-19: Kerala to send doctors, nurses to Maharashtra
Kochi/UNI: Kerala government will send a team of doctors and nurses to Mumbai by month end due to surge in the number of COVID patients there following a request from Maharashtra government.
Maharashtra government had written to Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja requesting 50 specialist doctors and 100 nurses to manage 600-bed Covid care centre coming up at Mahalaxmi Race Course in Mumbai.
According to Dr Santosh Kumar S S, vice-president, Doctors Without Borders, "We have reached out to the private sector doctors here. Already 20 doctors and 45 nurses have shown willingness to go to Mumbai. We will be sending them in batches."
Dr Kumar, who works with Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, said, "The situation in Mumbai is a bit alarming. We express our solidarity with the people who are suffering. We are organising a medical team for Mumbai and need doctors and nurses as volunteers. Doctors and nurses from government services will not be sent".
Kerala government has not yet taken any decision on sending an official team to Mumbai. However, Kerala unit of Indian Medical Association and government medical colleges alumni association are supporting the initiative, sources said.
Maharashtra government has assured specialist doctors will be given a monthly remuneration of Rs two lakh, MBBS doctors Rs 80,000 and nurses will be paid Rs 30,000, besides all other facilities.
Dr Kumar had headed the team of doctors and nurses to Kasaragod to set up Covid centre at the medical college there when it had the largest number of Covid cases in the state.
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