Young Dubai doctor takes a break from studies to volunteer

Varma was returning from UK for a break when duty called

There was no downtime for 25-year-old Indian expat Dr Aditya Varma. After returning from London for his medical exams, Dr Varma signed up to volunteer at Al Warsan Hospitality and Healthcare Centre for coronavirus (Covid-19) patients.

Sharing his experiences to Gulf News on Thursday, Dr Varma said: “A doctor who is a family friend informed me of the shortage of doctors at Al Warsan health facility and I immediately decided – without second thoughts –this was my opportunity to give back to the country I call home and to the leaders I look up to and admire.”

Dr Varma started volunteering work on April 9. He has been assisting with in-patient care and also swabbing duties.

“Initially, we worked over 12-15 hour shifts but I never once saw any of my colleagues complain about the work load,” he said. “We would get calls at all times of the day from anxious patients who required psychological support. We have to give the patients all the mental support they required because we were their ray of hope and we would never let that flicker of hope die out,” he added.

Dr Varma said the medical profession has taught him three things: humility, selflessness and hard work. And one important lesson he learned while doing volunteer work was to emphathise with the patients.

Dr Varma, who finished his medical degree in India two years ago, followed in the footsteps of his parents who are both doctors in Dubai.