This doc reached out to patients virtually

AGRA: While there are many who have fought Covid-19 successfully and are now leading a normal life, Mohammad Shameem stands out.

A professor at the department of TB and chest diseases at Aligarh Muslim University’s Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), this doctor defeated Covid while continuing to treat his patients through telemedicine.

“On May 30, I received a call while on duty that I have tested positive. It was a setback but I gathered my senses and, as asked by the authorities, went into isolation at my residence,” said Shameen, who was asymptomatic.

“The initial days were traumatic as my aged parents and other family members too had to be tested. Fortunately, all were negative. Now, I had the option of ignoring all routine worries and take rest but I decided to provide consultation and treatment through telemedicine so that my patients do not suffer,” said Shameem.

“I was getting all the reports, including impression of X Rays, on my phone and thus managed to work on all 12 days during isolation. I was in constant touch with my patients, which included both Covid and nonCovid ones,” said the doctor, who also attended two webinars

› The initial days were traumatic as my aged parents and other family members too had to be tested. Fortunately, all were negative.

MOHAMMAD SHAMEEM , professor, J Nehru Medical College

during the isolation period. The feat helped the 42-year-old doctor won applauds from Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal who tweeted in praise of his spirit.

AMU vice chancellor prof Tariq Mansoor and prof shahid

Ali Siddiqui (principal and CMS) of JNMC too applauded his commitment towards duty.

“The experience of successfully treating coronavirus patients at JNMC, including those who were critically ill, made me confident of recovering from the illness. Many critically ill patients only see doctors and nurses in their final hours and it is not appropriate for doctors to leave these patients, even if they test positive,” he said.

Originally from Shahjahanpur from where he passed his 10th, prof Shameem had remaining part of his education at the AMU. A firm believer in ‘Allah’, he is proud of being a doctor.