MHRC issues notice to Meghalaya govt over death of pregnant nurse

Shillong: The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has issued notice to State Chief Secretary M.S.Rao urging the latter to submit a detailed report to the Commission within ten days on the death of a pregnant nurse.
Manisha Turnia (32), who was a staff nurse at Ganesh Das Hospital in Shillong, died due to COVID-19 complications on May 30. She was six-and-half-month pregnant.
The notice was issued following a complaint lodged by Meghalaya Pradesh Mahila Congress president, Joplin Shylla, who has alleged that the negligence and the over zealousness of the hospital authority to disengage the nurse from duties led to her death due to ill health.
Health and Family Welfare Minister, Alexander Laloo Hek, who has directed the principal secretary of the department to institute an inquiry into the death of the nurse, had promised and action against anyone found guilty leading to the death of the nurse.
In fact, the death of the pregnant nurse has drew flak from several quarters including the opposition Congress for forcing her to attend duties during the COVID-19 lockdown period violating the Meghalaya government’s order on the pregnant women.
Meghalaya government in a notification on May 17 exempted women employees who are pregnant from attending official duties during the COVID-19 lockdown.