SUNDAY, MAY 05, 2024
PRATIK PARAB
MARGAO: The saying that all the heroes don't wear capes, many are among us working as common men. Like the volunteers for the human trials of Covaxin, the ESI Hospital of Margao has given the society; a hero who has after fighting the coronavirus has got cured, is helping other patients and has even donated his plasma for saving more lives suffering from COVID-19.
Twenty-seven-year-old Sunil Kamble from Margao, an ordinary man, who was lodged into the COVID Hospital of ESI, has set an example of how one person can lead by example. Sunil after getting a full recovery from the dreaded coronavirus has been working for the wellbeing of other patients in the hospital for the last 15 days.
Dr Edwin Gomes when he was the head of the operations at the ESI COVID Hospital had placed the idea that the patients who get cured can help the other patients to recover at the hospital.
Meanwhile, Sunil got cured of the infection and now has been helping the patients to cope with the infection.
He serves food, water, administers injections, collects blood samples and also helps the doctors and workers in the COVID hospital to wear and remove the PPE kits.
It started when a cook, who lives in his neighbourhood in the ESI Quarters, was tested positive. Sunil too had symptoms hence he tested himself after which he was found positive. He took treatment and was cured of the infection.
"The doctors say that there are no chances of contracting the infection again for at least the next 1 year. Hence, I decided to work at the COVID hospital," he said. Sunil is a medicine supplier by profession.
"I was worried to work at the hospital in the beginning. But, when I remembered that this very hospital treated me for the infection the fear subsided," said Sunil.
"I do the work of giving food, administering medicines and injections, collecting blood samples, helping with oxygen masks. I come in contact with many patients daily. Though I won't contract the infection again the doctors have insisted to keep minimum distance and I maintain that," he said.
"I was told that donating plasma can help cure several other patients. Recently I went to the GMC and have donated my plasma for the betterment of other patients," Sunil informed.
The doctors at the ESI COVID Hospital have urged all the patients at various hospitals to take the example of Sunil and commend his work. The doctors expressed sadness that very few of the cured patients have bothered to donate their plasma for the betterment of other patients.
Sunil's mother is a head sweeper at the ESI and is going to retire soon. He said that he is sure his work won't go in vain.
