Reuters
Published: 03 Jun 2021 12:59 PM BdST
Updated: 03 Jun 2021 12:59 PM BdST A healthcare worker takes a nasal swab sample from a shepherd girl for a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test in Nawroz Baba village in central Kashmir s Budgam district May 20, 2021. REUTERS/Danish Ismail
As the coronavirus pandemic began to spread last year, charities in Indian-administered Kashmir lacked a key tool that was available to most others in the country - high-speed mobile internet. );
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The Indian government had instituted an internet shutdown after its decision on Aug 5, 2019 to end Kashmir s semi-autonomous status.
The internet blackout eased in some places last year and by the time high-speed mobile internet was restored statewide on Feb 5, it was the longest shutdown in India s history.
Rashfaq Ahmad Bhat had been turned away from three hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir in the beginning of May this year as a deadly second wave of Covid-19 raged across India, infecting millions of people and leading to an acute shortage of beds and medical oxygen. Desperate to save the life of his 55-year-old mother Naseema Bano whose oxygen saturation was dipping dangerously low, he turned to the only other people who he knew were helping ordinary.
As Jammu and Kashmir witnesses a continuous rise in oxygen demand in the midst of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, several non-profits organisations in
COVID-19: NGOs extend assistance amid increasing oxygen demand in J-K aninews.in - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from aninews.in Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir – Authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir have barred doctors from speaking to media and directed the oxygen manufacturing units to stop supplies to the NGOs and private users.
The order issued by the region’s department of health on Thursday came as it battles a deadly wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with hospitals running short of beds and patients scrambling for oxygen cylinders, medicines and medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators.
“All Chief Medical Officers/Medical Superintendents/Block Medical officers of Kashmir Division are enjoined upon to issue instructions to all the staff under the administrative domain to desist from media interactions,” said the order signed by Dr Mushtaq Rather, director of health services in the disputed region.