Ignorance & irrational fears drive people to prevent last rites of COVID patients

Haflong: The district administration, along with the civil society in Haflong, Dima Hasao has been making attempts to remove all fears and apprehensions among people regarding performing the last rites of COVID patients. Several meetings were convened with the council authorities, apex bodies, gaon buras of different villages and line departments to discuss reasons for preventing the cremation and burial of people who died of COVID-19, thereby denying dignity to the dead.

The guidelines issued for disposal of bodies of coronavirus infected patients by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Directorate of Health Services, Government of India, and also the Assam Government are based on the current epidemiological knowledge about COVID-19.

As communicated by Dr. Dipali Barman, Joint Director Health Services, "Cadavers do not transmit disease and either cremation or burial is allowed as per the faith of the deceased." Certain measures are, however, followed to ensure 'minimum touch' with the body. Standard precautions are to be followed by healthcare workers or the relatives while handling the bodies of COVID patients such as hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment, including gloves and masks, disinfecting the bag housing the body, and disinfecting the linen covering it. Moreover, staff engaged to do the duty is trained in the infection prevention-control practices.

Expressing his anguish over people protesting against performing the last rites of a COVID patient, Dima Hasao Deputy Commissioner Paul Barua said, "By obstructing burials or cremations people are only denying the dignity in death because of irrational fears and misinformation." Strict action will be taken as per Disaster Management Act 2005 and CrPC against any individual or group who does not comply or tries to resist in performing the last rites of COVID patients.

The district has already witnessed the death of seven persons due to COVID-19 till date and resentment can still be seen among some sections of people. The Deputy Commissioner has appealed to the people of Dima Hasao, especially Haflong town, to come to a common consensus about the cremation ground or burial ground so that no person who dies of COVID is degraded because of the ignorance of a few.