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�Harassed� health workers to light candles, observe black day

By The Assam Tribune

GUWAHATI, April 21 - The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has demanded of the Union government to enact a Central law on violence against doctors, nurses, other health workers and hospitals in the face of abuse and violence meted out to them, especially during the current COVID-19 scenario.

In a statement to the press here today, Dr Satyajit Borah and Dr Hemanga Baishya, State president and State secretary respectively of IMA Assam State Branch, condemned the incidents of abuse, violence, spitting, pelting of stones, denial of entry to societies and residential accommodation aimed at doctors, nurses and other health workers throughout the country during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

They said, �IMA has maintained utmost restraint and patience in spite of extreme provocations. That doesn�t mean our patience is endless. Abuse, violence, spitting, pelting of stones, denial of entry to societies and residential accommodation have been tolerated so far since we expected the governments to do their normal duty. Obstruction to cremation is the last straw that IMA can bear. If dignity is denied even in death, our patience and restraint lose their value.�

Calling for an immediate halt to such abuse and violence, the IMA leaders said all doctors and hospitals will light a candle as a mark of protest and vigil at 9 pm on Wednesday.

They further said that IMA will observe �black day� on April 23, with all doctors in the country to report for duty wearing black badges.

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