TOPIC- Doctors are covid warriors fighting the biggest battle of their lives.
As I sit in the balcony enjoying a calm morning during lockdown, I am distracted by my Elder Sister's voice chanting the Hanuman Chalisa??, her daily ritual before going to the hospital. She has been appointed the junior doctor in a Covid-19 ward at our M.Kashiram Government Hospital. Months have passed since I have hugged her as her duty requires them to isolate from the family. Meanwhile, I see my mother, anxious, tossing a round chapatti (roti). Only a day earlier, she had read about the violence against doctors and paramedical staff at Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, over the issue of non-availability of ICU beds.
The country is battling a virus that has devastated hundreds of families. But who is to be blamed? Is it the laxity of the authorities or the paucity of resources?
They say a doctor’s motivation to treat his patients is backed by the patient’s social background (religion, caste, region) but I have grown up in a family of doctors and have closely observed that my elder sister is equally heartbroken by the death of every patient without prejudice.
My heart aches to see my elder sister tirelessly working in PPEs to save as many lives as possible, yet, at the dining table, they express their dismay of being blatantly unprotected against the verbal abuse, telephonic threats, physical assault, murder and arson that their colleagues are being subjected to, regularly.
The agonising question that boils in my head is — why is there a need for the ‘black ?? badge’ protest against violence on doctors? Is this the reward for toiling day and night, sacrificing their family life when the general public stays protected within the four walls of their houses in the arms of their loved ones?
The phone rings , it’s from the hospital; they have informed my sister that for the next fortnight she will be managing the Covid ward as the other senior doctor has been tested positive with the virus.
I have tears in my eyes. I sit down with my mother and I quote the lines of a Hindi song that was made as a tribute to doctors: “Beemar hai jo kis dharm ka hai, humsein na kabhi bhed hua. Sarhad pe jo wardi khaki thi, ab uska rang safed hua" "(We never discriminate patients based on their religion. The border uniform was khakhi earlier but now it’s white).”
It is this moment that we all need to realise that the country is fighting one of its worst battles and this battle has soldiers in the form of all the Covid warriors who, with their untiring efforts, are reinforcing people’s faith in humanity.
The onus is on their families too. They have to be as brave as the family of a soldier and uplift the spirits of these heroes. In the words of Dr K.K. Agarwal, Padma Shree recipient and an eminent cardiologist, in his last speech before his death from Covid pneumonia: “The show must go on”. We can get through only if all of us put forth our mindful and conscious efforts.
The next morning, as I sit with my mother in the balcony, I see my elder sister leaving for hospital duty, proudly wearing her white apron and carrying the stethoscope around the neck as her favourite Jewellery.
#Stay Home , #Stay Safe .....
Blog by - Yuvika Srivastava, class 8th