We will win the war against Covid-19 ― we only need to stay fully committed and united with the Corona warriors, says DR PUSHPA CHATURVEDI
India thought it was nearing the end of the Covid war. With the ever-reducing figures of Covid-19 cases and the enthusiastic and widely publicised vaccination drive, people let down their guard of social distancing, wearing masks and using sanitisers to keep the virus at bay, carelessly flaunting their so-called heroism. Ironically, now the same brave folk desperately look for Covid heroes to come to their rescue.
It is believed that the Mahabharata war was won by the Pandavas, despite they being smaller in number, because the huge Kaurava army did not trust its leader. On the other hand, the Pandavas’ small army had full trust in their prowess, in Arjuna and in Krishna, their divine mentor.
The army of the Pandavas also knew that the war had to be fought with the same vigour till final victory, till the Kauravas were vanquished and their reign ended. This is the approach that we need to take to fight the war against Covid-19.
Complacency is dangerous in any battle, be it cricket or a real battle ground. If you let your guard down in any battle, you are dead. Each one of us must understand what is expected of us to save India from the pandemic ravaging us.
The Covid-19 war has brought to the fore many exceptional ordinary people to work as warriors, and many heroes to help those in distress. The police personnel, the security forces, the safai karmacharis, the food distributors, volunteers arranging the last rites, and many other Good Samaritans ― they all stand out as excellent Covid warriors in this pandemic. We appreciate and are very grateful to all of them. But the warriors that stand out shining like beacons are the healthcare workers!
It has been very tough for the doctors, the nurses, the paramedics and all the hospital workers, working round-the-clock without rest, without a day off and exposed to the deadly virus, because they are in such close proximity to the patients.
They are trying their best to find out what will work and what will not, battling against scarcity of beds, drugs, oxygen, ventilators, their foremost priority being to save lives.
The sheer number of deaths, despite giving their best possible, makes them feel utterly helpless and drains them emotionally and physically, leaving them really exhausted.
The patients and their relatives are in a desperate situation, seeking cure from a lethal disease. Given their predicament, it may be difficult for them to gauge how tough it is for the medical fraternity to carry on the exhausting battle, day after day, with a smile on their face. They had promised to follow their mission to serve humanity, despite all odds. And it is this which inspires them to carry on, despite the monumental odds against them.
Sometimes, instead of being appreciated, they fear being abused or even attacked by the relatives of the patients for many reasons out of their control. They know they are risking not only their own life, but fear that they may expose their loved ones, their family members to the diabolical Covid-19 infection.
Not only the senior fraternity, but also the junior doctors like junior residents, interns, medical students and nursing students who have just entered this profession are bearing the brunt of this ruthless virus.
They are after all, human, and when the going gets very tough, they might be wondering what this noble profession has in store for them. Please don’t blame them or judge them in their moments of despondency and their loneliness.
Being a doctor myself, I can confidently say that despite the lows, each and every one of our health warriors have not given up the battle and are marching ahead without breaking down.
They need your support and a little bit of appreciation, too. More importantly, they need your love and compassion as much as you need theirs. They are our hope for winning this war by their sheer hard work, dedication and by innovative new vaccines.
In this long war, there can be no compromise on strictly adhering to Covid- appropriate behaviour ― social distancing, wearing masks and using sanitisers and gloves.
We will win the war against Covid-19 ― we only need to stay fully committed and united with the Corona warriors. Above all, have faith that there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.
(Featured Image – A Nurse in tears; feeling exhausted, as she continues to battle the worst surge of Covid-19 yet. Painting by Dr Pushpa Chaturvedi)
Dr Pushpa Chaturvedi, a paediatrician with over 50 years experience, is an educationist and researcher, with over 100 research publications, mainly on social paediatrics in renowned medical journals. Ex Professor and Head of Department of Paediatrics, MGIMS Sevagram Wardha, she is a thinker, writer, poet, artist and a spiritual blogger with over 500 blogs to her credit. Dr Chaturvedi is also a keen traveller, music and nature lover.
