19-year-old COVID-19 patient raped by ambulance driver

An ambulance driver in India has reportedly raped a 19-year-old girl when transporting her to the hospital after she tested positive for COVID-19.

The lady was reportedly attacked by a man identified as V Noufal, 29, while on their way to the Firstline COVID Treatment Centre in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala, India, on Saturday night, September 5.

The rapist was arrested the next day,September 6,  after the victim reported the incident to a staff of the hospital.

Indian Minister of Health,  KK Shailaja described the rape incident in Kerala as ‘shocking’ and ‘inhuman’.

An official of the Indian health department told the press that usually the driver is left alone in a chamber that is well secured so that no other staff accompanies the driver.

This was to reduce contact during the transportation of COVID-19 patients.

“The driver’s chamber is partitioned and no other staff or nurse accompanies the driver while ferrying patients to hospital.

‘This is to limit the exposure of health workers to infected persons. In rare cases, if the patient is serious, we send a nurse. In this case, both patients were stable,’ he said.

Source: mynewsghana.net