But pandemic has not petered out as yet; be on guard, warn doctors

Every crisis has its heroes and the doctors and nurses of hospitals, especially Government Hospitals in Mysuru have won accolades for their selflessness and sacrifice in their relentless fight against COVID-19.

While on one hand people are largely confined to their homes with businesses and educational institutions shut down in an attempt to contain the virus, on the other hand, doctors, healthcare workers and medical staff members led the battle from the front.

Putting their own lives at risk with selfless determination for the sake of saving lives, they truly are heroes in these challenging times. The least we can do here is appreciate their efforts and cooperate by staying safe indoors and also taking all precautions when we venture out now at a time when the pandemic is showing a declining trend.

While most professionals worked from home, this is one profession where professionals have been recruited for in-person work. Dressed in full body suits — at times suffocating and constantly sweating inside, doctors and other healthcare staff have taken the Coronavirus pandemic head-on and helped the city through two disastrous waves over a year-and-a-half. The fight hasn’t been without sacrifices.

The steep decline in COVID cases seems to have developed a sense of complacency among people. One can find people moving in public places and markets without masks and without any care for their own safety as also that of others. They seem to be under the impression that the pandemic threat has gone.

But doctors warn that the threat is far from over and advise wearing masks, observing social distance and other COVID-19 protocols for at least three to four more months. Star of Mysore spoke to a section of Junior Resident Doctors from Princess Krishnajammanni Super Speciality Hospital (run under Mysore Medical College and Research Institute) on KRS Road, who have been serving round-the-clock there and who have seen many deaths at the very beginning of their careers.

It all started last March and then there was a dip for two to three months, before it started raging again earlier this year. The frontline COVID warriors were under huge stress anyway, but the problem was that the second wave was four times the first wave, and it basically shook the whole system because there was shortage of beds, shortage of oxygen and medicines. Apart from the District Hospital and Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC&RI), there were many hospitals that were under the grip of pandemic and Krishnajammanni Super Speciality Hospital was one among them along with Tulsidas Hospital on JLB Road.

“Fortunately, we were able to treat patients through and with the cooperation of donors, corporates and volunteers from other private medical colleges including the JSS Medical College. Though we had a proud feeling of functioning in  a new hospital, the flesh and blood of the Hospital in the form of equipment, beds, ICUs, medicines, ventilators and allied infrastructure were filled by donors and corporates,” said the Junior Resident Doctors who have put in four months of service.

“As our first time on the field during the thick of the pandemic, we got an opportunity to manage time better as there was just so much to do — administrative work, clinical care, motivating staff, interacting with distraught family members or constantly updating knowledge. Finally we accomplished it and we must take care that the pandemic does not raise its ugly head again. We are seeing many are not wearing masks, while most of them are wearing it improperly on their necks,” said Dr. Shivali V. Kamath.

“When the COVID wave started, we had no idea how the pandemic would pan out. It was like going to the war-front with no guarantee that you will come back. But we came to terms with it and that gave us a good experience of handling patients who are young but critical. We felt depressed when many young lives were lost and it was a hopeless situation too,” said Dr. H.V. Akshay.

Apart from them, there were many other PG students and rural service doctors who were also posted for duties on rotation basis. The pandemic, tight work schedule and seeing people die in front of their eyes have all made the doctors relook at their lives, their future, meaning of life and purpose of the profession. In a way, COVID has made their lives better.