India
GN Saibaba's family reaches out to Mah CM for urgent medical intervention
Saibaba recently tested positive for COVID-19 and was diagnosed with CO-RADS level-5 infection.
The family members of detained professor of Delhi University, Dr GN Saibaba, have written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to intervene for medical care and support to Saibaba, as his health condition has worsened in Nagpur Central Jail. The family has been striving to shift Saibaba to hospital, after he was tested positive for COVID-19. The family received a telephone on February 23rd from Nagpur Central Jail, concerning his illness, wherein he was reported to have a severe cough, unexpected drop in blood pressure.
His family has written a letter, appealing to the CM to direct the concerned authorities to shift Saibaba immediately to a Multi-Speciality Hospital with wheelchair accessibility. His family had previously asked the jail authorities to shift him to a private hospital. As per the accounts of family members, Saibaba is very weak and unable to speak properly as he is suffering from an intense throat and lung infection. He lost his appetite, as well as taste and smell as he has great difficulty in swallowing the food. The family also claimed that he had a fall from his cot in the jail due to low blood pressure. His wife Vasantha Kumari has demanded to release Saibaba on parole.
The family also claimed that there is no medical staff to assist Saibaba in the jail except for one of the co-accused in the same case, who also contracted COVID-19, who has been appointed as an attendant to Saibaba. Saibaba was tested positive for COVID-19 and was diagnosed with CO-RADS level-5 infection by the Government Medical College Hospital Nagpur, and was sent back to his Anda cell in the jail. Reportedly, he has several serious comorbidities. In an exclusive interview with Indie Journal, Vasantha Kumari had spoken about the severity of Saibaba's health condition and the need to provide him with urgent and appropriate medical care.
Dr. Saibaba has been detained in alleged connections with Maoists, however, his family has denied these accusations.
