Waging a war against virus and worries

Fearlessly fighting the worst pandemic in 100 years, many doctors have been exposing themselves and their families to the risk of getting infected. Stretching their physical and mental capacities to the limit, they have been spending long hours in Covid wards day after day for more than a year. While going beyond their call of duty, they have endured the heartbreak of losing patients to the virus despite best efforts and have experienced the satisfaction of saving many lives too. HT profiles six such young Covid war heroes from across Punjab, highlighting their challenges: IT’S MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY DRAINING, SAYS PATIALA DOC Dr Ajay Bhasker, 35

Senior resident at Government Medical College, Patiala

PATIALA: Dr Ajay Bhasker, 35, was always prepared for any challenge in the medical field, but he never thought in the wildest of his dreams that the Covid-19 pandemic is going to be mentally and physically draining.

Dr Bhasker is a senior resident in the department of medicine at Government Medical College, Patiala, and is tirelessly serving infected patients at the Covid care unit.

“Performing duty in the second wave of the pandemic is the toughest challenge I have faced in my 10 years of service. It has drained frontline workers not only physically but mentally as well,” said Dr Bhasker.

He added that since the outbreak of the pandemic, his daily life revolves around donning a PPE kit for half of the day and sanitising himself thereafter.

“The support from my wife, sevenyear-old daughter and parents kept me going throughout this pandemic. They provide me strength and kept me free from other chores so that I can perform my duty with dedication,” he said, adding that he had to stay away from his family for two-and-a-half months for call of duty.

“It is satisfying when cured patients and their family members call you up for expressing gratitude for saving their lives,” said Dr Bhasker.

“But it is heartbreaking to see patients gasping for breath and dying in front of your eyes. You feel so helpless,” he added.

— Navrajdeep Singh

WINNING BATTLE AGAINST COVID TWICE, SHE’S BACK FIGHTING AT FRONTLINE Dr Diksha, 29

Junior resident at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot

FARIDKOT: After recovering from Covid-19 twice in the past two months, Dr Diksha, a junior resident, has returned to her duty at the isolation ward at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot. The third-year pulmonary medicine postgraduate student has been posted here since the initial days of the pandemic in April 2020. Besides monitoring the vitals of patients on ventilators, she also has another tough task to perform — inform the family members of Covid victims.

Days after getting the first dose of vaccine, Dr Diksha tested positive for the virus on March 24. “After recovering, I returned to duty in the second week of April. Unfortunately, I again tested positive in the first week of May, ahead of my second dose. After completing the quarantine period, I am back on duty with even more determination,” she says.

Amid a sudden rise in cases during the second wave, it’s becoming very stressful to tackle the situation, she says, adding that it is also a learning experience to work in extremely critical conditions. Dr Diksha has seen many patients succumb to the virus in the past one year, but it is the toughest for her to inform the parents of any young victim. “The only thing that keeps me going is the hope to save as many lives as I can. At times, even when we know a patient is not going to make it, we put our best efforts, as there is always a chance of miracle.”

— Parteek Singh Mahal

HASN’T SEEN PARENTS FOR 6 MONTHS, AS DUTY COMES FIRST FOR DOC FROM MOGA Dr Manavjot Kaur Brar, 27 Junior resident at Government Medical College, Patiala

PATIALA: Dr Manavjot Kaur Brar, 27, a junior resident, has not visited her parents for the past six months, busy putting up a strong fight against the pandemic at the Covid care unit of Rajindra Hospital. Working under an extremely stressful environment, video calls with her parents — whenever she can get the time from the busy schedule — are the only solace for this second-year MD student who hails from Nathuwala in Moga district.

“I have very minimal contact with my parents. I have not visited them for the past six months and have not allowed them to visit me as well in order to avoid any exposure,” she says.

The second wave of the pandemic has been exceptionally stressful, says the young doctor, having seen people struggling to breathe even after being provided oxygen supply.

“Though we are trained and prepared to handle such situations, but it has started affecting us psychologically. I always try to stay positive in order to boost the morale of patients, so that even they can fight this battle against the virus with a positive energy,” she says.

However, it is not easy to remain positive on seeing young people collapsing within seconds, she says. However, every job has its satisfying moments too. Meeting recovered patients in general isolation wards is one such experience. “It gives me a great sense of satisfaction when they applaud my work,” says Dr Manavjot.

— Navrajdeep Singh

THIS AMRITSAR DOC HAS OVERSEEN CREMATION OF OVER 300 COVID VICTIMS

Dr Jaspinder Pratap Singh, 30

Junior resident at Government Medical College and Hospital, Amritsar

AMRITSAR: A junior resident of forensic medicine and toxicology, Dr Jaspinder Pratap Singh, 30, is tasked with ensuring proper management of the bodies of Covid-19 victims at Government Medical College and Hospital, Amritsar.

“Since March 2020, I have handled over 300 dead bodies. Every phone call from senior doctors means the same challenge for me — wear the PPE kit once again, sanitise my body, manage yet another dead body and the most heartbreaking task of handing it over to the family members. Sometimes, I have to rush to the emergency even in the middle of the night,” he says, adding that the pandemic has completely changed his lifestyle and mindset.

He also has another challenge at hand — counsel the critical patients before shifting them to ventilators. “Only a few patients have recovered after spending days on ventilator. However, I have to make them understand that they can still make it. On the other hand, I have to tell their family members not to have high hopes of their survival.”

At present, Dr Jaspinder is in 14-day isolation as he, too, tested positive. He has been living in his hostel room alone, away from his family in Gurdaspur, which he hasn’t visited for six months. “I will soon rejoin my duty. I hope all people follow Covid protocol, so that we can together beat this virus,” he says.

— Mandeep Kaur Narula

FEARLESS, DETERMINED, SHE’S ON COVID DUTY SINCE DAY 1 OF POSTGRAD COURSE Dr Harjot Kaur, 30

Junior resident at Government Medical College and Hospital, Amritsar

AMRITSAR: In September 2020, on the first day of her two-year postgraduation diploma in anesthesiology, Dr Harjot Kaur, 30, was assigned duty at the Covid-19 isolation wards of Government Medical College and Hospital, Amritsar. Soon after, she contracted the virus and was in home isolation for a fortnight.

“After completing my isolation, I rejoined my duties,” she says. Fearless and determined, this junior resident doctor has since been taking care of critically ill patients on ventilators, trying to cheer them up, day after day.

However, in March, her parents and sister tested positive back home in Samana, Patiala. “I was feeling helpless. I had two choices — go back home to look after my parents who had moderate symptoms or continue to treat critical patients. I decided to go for the latter and my family supported my decision,” she says.

Dr Harjot shares a heartbreaking experience about a patient’s son losing the battle against the virus, mentally, even before losing his loved one. “The son told me: ‘If you think my father won’t survive, please tell me, as I have to make arrangements for his last rituals’. What can be more disheartening than thinking about last rites while the patient is still alive?” she says.

However, there are positive experiences too, as when an old woman patient remarked that the young doctor’s positive attitude and smile is helping her fight this battle.

— Mandeep Kaur Narula 9-MONTH PREGNANT, THIS JALANDHAR DOC IS BUSY TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS

Dr Richa Chatrath, 27

Nodal officer at Chanpreet Memorial Charitable Hospital, Jalandhar

JALANDHAR: Nine-month pregnant, Dr Richa Chatrath, 27, has been performing her duty as the nodal officer at the Covid ward of Chanpreet Charitable Hospital. A physiotherapist, she is primarily tasked with preparing the database and health-related data at the hospital, but she also takes care of mental counselling as well physical rehabilitation of patients through video calls.

“My mother tested positive four months ago. I treated her at home, which made me realise that if I could do it for her, then why not for other patients. I then decided to join the hospital to serve people amid this pandemic,” she says.

When one of the patients was mentally stressed, she also counselled him daily through video calls, and has been continuing with it with other patients as well. “Besides relieving their mental stress through counselling and other techniques, patients need to do chest, breathing and other exercises as well to remain active during the isolation period. So, I take sessions on breathing exercises or other physiotherapy techniques through video calls,” says Dr Richa.

Working while being pregnant is challenging, says the young motherto-be, but she has never been afraid of the coronavirus, as she has been taking all the precautions. “I feel eternal satisfaction for being able to serve Covid patients and contribute towards saving lives,” she says.

— Gagandeep Jassowal