‘The profession we are in is less a job, more a service to humanity’
Srinagar, May 06: For Dr Sadaqat Rehman, 56, a mother of a lone child, treating patients is something beyond one’s profession. She has dedicated herself to treat Covid patients of Valley.
Sadaqat is not alone, there are many like her who share similar thoughts and have a same mission. News agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) spoke to some of the female medicos who work on a frontline to treat the COVID-19 affected persons.
Sadaqat is an assistant professor at the Institute of Health and Neuro-Sciences Kashmir and began her career in 1997. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Kashmir in March-2020; she has kept her life at stake by treating the Coronavirus infected individuals non-stop.
For her, humanity is more than being a doctor first. “Since the March-2020 the workplace has now become my home as most of the time, we did not get time to go back to home. I think this is more important than anything else,” she says wearing a gentle smile.
Wearing a Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), Dr Sadaqat says treating Covid patients gives her solace nevertheless she is doing her duty.
Shabeena Rehmat—a nurse posted in Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS) Soura told KNO that over last few months she has been posted in different departments like Psychiatry department at JVC Bemina, Pediatric department at SKIMS, Oncology and as well as in Intensive critical units and all this while she and her other colleagues have been under constant exposure to COVID- 19.
“At times it gets difficult to go home after being in COVID-19 wards, as we don’t want to jeopardize the health of our families too,” Rehmat said. “For us, hospital is our home and patients our family.”
Rehmat said that “The long working hours, incessant exposure to COVID-19 and other infections and a disturbed social life couldn’t overturn me from the path I have chosen as my career.”
She said that nurses are frontline workers and have equal contribution in fighting against the pandemic.
Administering medication, catering the severely sick patients and exhaustive nights are parts of their daily routine. “We can’t afford to be exhausted and that has even never been an impediment in the four years of journey of my career.”
Meanwhile, a senior doctor Talat Jabeen said: “Although, having our health and families’ health at stake, doctors have never shown their back as we chose this profession for a reason in serving humanity.”
“This is essential service and it’s a part of our profession to deal with the COVID-19 patients. Whosoever is in the frontline in dealing with the COVID-19 has to face the problems to save the community,” she said.
Talat said, “Doctor’s lives are at risk when handling the COVID positive patients however proper measures are taken by the doctors to protect themselves as well to save the patient.” Talat said.
She also said that the department is also ensuring that no pregnant doctor is given COVID-19 duty as during the pregnancy women are more vulnerable to infection—(KNO)