‘Tribal patients denied basic facilities at Wayanad DCC’

Municipal chairperson says issue raked up by LDF councillors

A group of COVID-19 patients from the Varadimoola tribal hamlet in Mananthavady municipality has alleged that they were denied basic facilities at a domiciliary care centre (DCC) under the civic body on Thursday night. The Health Department had organised an antigen test camp in the hamlet and as many as 17 of the 136 members had tested positive. They were directed to be shifted to a nearby DCC. “Though I had requested the municipal chairperson to provide basic facilities to the patients at a DCC near the hamlet, the authorities failed to provide them as beds at the DCC were almost filled with patients,” said councillor Thankamani. The tribespeople were directed to take a mat and pillow along with them as per the direction of the municipal chairperson and they slept on it on Thursday night, she added.