Mumbai: A few weeks ago global Scientists, epidemiologists and the international media were at pains to explain India’s mysteriously sharp decline in Covid 19 cases and deaths after September. Even though there has been a surge since mid-Feb, with an overall death rate of 112 per million people, we can confidently claim that we have fared far better than Europe and North America during this Pandemic.
One can attribute this to the heat, the robust immunity, the relatively younger population etc but let’s not forget very crucial elements which are, a dedicated workforce on the ground at State and Municipality levels and excellent doctors and health care workers, many of who are women. This should come as no surprise. One reads about women being the unsung heroes during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic that claimed 50 million lives. They shouldered the burden of the pandemic because the virus disproportionately affected young men. Although the doctors treating the outbreak back then were almost universally male, it was women as nurses who became the primary caregivers.
On international women’s day we caught up with dynamic women Covid warriors from Mumbai South’s A-ward which covers Colaba, Churchgate and Navy Nagar, who were instrumental in containing the spread in that area.
This is just a small microcosm, but these women are representative of the indomitable spirit of our covid sheroes all over the country, who sacrificed much to ensure a better outcome for India.
Dr Vishakha Shivdasani
Based in Cuffe Parade, Mumbai, this dynamic young family physician took her experience and knowledge in reversing Chronic lifestyle diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, and put it to use in treating her Covid patients and the long haulers who suffered multiple health issues even after testing negative, with much success. Not only did she attend to her patients non-stop over the last year, but she also harnessed the insights she acquired and authored a book which was released two weeks ago called ‘Covid and Post Covid Recovery – Dr Vee’s 6 – point plan’
How did it feel to go to your clinic during lockdown?
Going to clinic was difficult. Wearing a PPP or an N95 and visor and gloves were very uncomfortable. While you want to take care of your patients you also have that fear about going home to your loved ones. I live with my father so I was very scared that I might be a carrier of the virus myself, but what had to be done had to be done.
The first month when I was at the clinic I was without staff as they had returned to their villages and that was very challenging. I didn’t know who was walking into the clinic, I couldn’t monitor it and that was super scary. Later on everyone with fever was told to do teleconsults. I would treat Covid patients and regular patients also. Malaria and dengue don’t disappear just because there’s covid. It was a gruelling 12 months as I wrote the book as well. I haven’t worked this hard even in med school.
Source link