Rejuvenation time for docs before the rigours of a possible third wave
Gaurav Saigal, K Sandeep Kumar, S Raju and Hemendra Chaturvedi
LUCKNOW/PRAYAGRAJ/AGRA: before a probable third wave of Covid and several among them are taking time out to rejuvenate for the challenges ahead.
DR SANDEEP KAPOOR, HEALTHCITY, LUCKNOW
Dr Sandeep Kapoor of Healthcity in Lucknow opted for a family trip to Ranthambhore. “Since March 2020, there had been monotony in our actions -going to hospital in the morning and coming back home without socialising. The trip was a refresher for the entire family and a boost to start afresh in wake of a probable third wave of Covid,” said Kapoor.
DR VK MISHRA, 55, ACMO (Prayagraj)
In Prayagraj, Dr VK Mishra, 55, is relaxed these days. He is spending spare time with family members and even managing a few outings to nearby places. This is a mental and physical rejuvenation for the doctor before facing the challenges of a probable third wave of the pandemic.
An additional chief medical officer (ACMO) in Prayagraj, he is the nodal officer for oxygen supply in all government hospitals of the district. Mishra is also busy overseeing training of doctors and nurses set to man the paediatric intensive care units (PICUS) set up in anticipation of the third wave of Covid, which many experts claim, could pose a risk to kids.
His present workload is nothing compared to the hectic schedules he was forced to endure during the first and the second waves of the pandemic— both of which left him also infected.
“During the first phase, I was the nodal officer of the first dedicated Covid treatment facility in the entire Prayagraj division (comprising Prayagraj, Kaushambi, Fatehpur and Pratapgarh) that came up at Kotwa. As cases started to rise and patients from all four districts started arriving, the bed capacity had to be increased. During that period, days and nights had to be spent at the hospital itself,” shared Dr Mishra, who has done MBBS from MLN Medical College and joined provincial Medical Services in 1992 at the age of 26.
The second wave of the pandemic saw him handling the oxygen supply to hospitals in the district. “This was the time when demand for oxygen rose sharply, and you had to critically balance the demand and supply. I contracted the virus in September 2020 that needed me to get admitted to Medanta Hospital’s ICU in Gurgaon and spend a month in the hospital. In April 2021, I again contracted the virus. This time, I remained in home isolation. But the need for oxygen in hospitals was such that even in high fever and low oxygen levels, I had to manage things in the middle of the night,” recalled Mishra.
“This was a break from the hectic schedule due to the dip in Covid cases. I made the most of it. We went to nearby scenic places like Arail ghat and Sitamarhi. I have also been able to get back to meditation and yoga, which I had to forsake during the second wave of the pandemic,” the doctor shared.
DR AMIT GARG, 47, LLRM MEDICAL COLLEGE (MEERUT)
Dr Amit Garg, 47, is in charge of the microbiology lab at LLRM Medical College of Meerut and has the responsibility of conducting RT-PCR tests for Meerut and adjoining districts.
From April 1 to June 30, Garg and his team conducted 6,72,203 RT-PCR tests in which 4,58,78 people tested positive.
He went through a tough phase during the second wave of the pandemic when his 72-year-old mother died in hospital on April 16. Garg performed her last rites alone, as his wife, teenage daughter and brother were in quarantine after contracting with virus.
He returned to work on April 19 and shared: “I could not get time even to recall memories of my mother. It was peak time of virus infection and I was engrossed in tests,” shared Garg who barely went home to meet his family in April and May.
“On many days, I reached home at 2am and returned to the lab at 5am, without meeting my wife and daughter,” he added.
He said the Covid situation is now better and doctors are prepared to handle the possible third wave with enhanced capacity of testing 14,000 samples a day.
Dr Garg said he still can’t think of going for an outing or spending exclusive time with family because his lab is still conducting 7,000-8,000 tests every day.
The only respite he now has that he returns home by 5pm from his lab and spends time with his wife and the daughter.
DR PRASHANT GUPTA, 48, SNMC (AGRA)
Dr Gupta, superintendent of Covid hospital at SN Medical College in Agra supervised all arrangements for patients coming here in the first and second waves of the pandemic.
“We had no time for ourselves and family. We used to reach the Covid ward as early as 6am after leaving the hospital as late as 3am the previous day. Our phones kept ringing round the clock for arrangements at Covid hospital created in SNMC,” stated Gupta.
“After the Covid situation eased a bit, I can spend some time with family members in the evening hours. We are also in preparation mode for the possible third wave,” said Gupta.
“Besides our main ICU, we are preparing a paediatric ICU as children are feared to be the most vulnerable in the possible third wave. We found certain aspects that needed improvement in the course of the first and second waves. We are getting them updated at our facility having 150 beds, out of which 65 are ICU beds,” he stated. Only one patient is left in the COVID Hospital at SNMC, he added.
“But many Covid patients, who were discharged, are coming for documentation and we have to assist them,” he stated.
“With the Covid situation easing now, I am back to reading (my hobby). I will also be able to revive my morning exercises including yoga,” said Gupta.
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