Bahrain’s rights watchdog will send teams to government quarantine centres and isolation facilities where coronavirus (Covid-19) patients are being treated, according to a top official, writes the GDN’s Sandeep Singh Grewal.

The visits by personnel from the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) is aimed at ensuring that the rights of patients, their families and healthcare workers are not being violated.

“We plan to visit the quarantine centres first and the isolation facilities later to ensure the rights of all parties concerned are protected,” NIHR chairwoman Maria Khoury told the GDN.

“Our focus will also remain on the frontline medical staff in the country who are working round the clock to combat the pandemic.”

The field visits will alert the NIHR to any shortcomings or Covid-19 related issues that need to be addressed. Currently, the government quarantine centres are located in Hidd, Sitra, allocated departments at Salmaniya Medical Complex, the Psychiatric Hospital and the Muharraq Geriatric Centre.

Ms Khoury said the NIHR teams will follow strict safety guidelines including wearing protective gear while visiting these facilities.

“Our teams will have a questionnaire for patients and healthcare staff related to services provided, cleanliness, supplies and other issues they may face that will help in our assessment.”

Last Friday, Health Minister Faeqa Al Saleh briefed the NIHR via virtual conferencing about the steps taken to combat Covid-19.

“We presented our plans for field visits of the facilities to which the minister agreed and assured full transparency,” said Ms Khoury.

“The visits will also cover the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Sanabis which has been turned into a testing facility for Covid-19.”

The official added that the NIHR will be launching a social media campaign to debunk rumours about the disease, and raise awareness about social distancing as well as other precautionary measures.

She pointed out that so far not a single Covid-19 complaint has been received from the public.

“We have set up a special team since last month to respond to queries submitted online via our hotline (80001144) and the NIHR website.

“There are no complaints registered so far, but we do get calls, for example, from expats who feel their rights are being violated, which is not the case based on our investigations.”

Ms Khoury urged people to follow health guidelines and adhere to the 14-day self-isolation protocol.

Bahrain imposed self-isolation for all international arrivals since March 18 to contain the spread of the respiratory illness.