THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2024
SURAJ NANDREKAR
PANJIM: A lady, probably in her 40s, and two others, both in their early 30s, eagerly await to be picked up by their families from the ESI hospital, Margao, now called the Covid hospital. All three were admitted here, after they were found to be positive, about seven to 10 days ago. Interestingly, all three had travelled from Maharashtra.
While they were happy to be returning home, there was a palpable fear. Maybe they feared social stigmatisation? Maybe how the family would accept them? Or how society and neighbours would react?
These questions, if not voiced, were clearly visible on their face, even as they praised the Covid hospital in charge Dr Edwin Gomes.
“He (Dr Edwin) is our God, we did not see God but if he happens to be somewhere on earth, I think he is here in front of us. Though we had family members calling us up and inquiring every day, Dr Edwin was the one who gave us confidence from day one that we aren’t going to die,” the lady told Herald.
She further stated that she was scared how it would be like in the hospital, what would be the treatment? Will we get good food, medicine? Will we be allowed to talk to family? “But everyone here, Dr Edwin, other doctors, support staff and even the multi tasking staff, made us feel at home,” she stated.
Another youth, said he was happy to know he was returning home alive. “If we see back in Maharashtra, things aren’t as good, I am happy I was here for treatment and Dr Edwin was our in charge. He was unbelievable. Cannot believe I was infected by such a deadly virus and I have recovered, all credit goes to doctor and his team and the staff,” he said.
The second youth also expressed similar sentiments, “The staff made us feel at home. Right from the hospital clothes to other essentials, everything was provided.”
Asked how they feel like going home all three coincidentally had similar answer, “good but…”, “….we do not know how the families, societies and neighbours would react. We are cured now but already we have learnt that the families are being taunted by neighbours,” they told Herald.
Dr Gomes intervened then and said society needs to respect the warriors, they have defeated COVID-19 and are returning home.
“I think society and neighbours need to give them respect, they have defeated corona, they have developed anti-bodies, which can be useful in the fight against corona. Some of them have also volunteered to work here in the hospital, which is a great gesture, I must say,” he said.
While the COVID pandemic has wreaked havoc throughout the country with reports of nearly 5,000 deaths and several hundreds critical, Goa seems to be the exception with 41 out of 69 patients cured.
However, as the social stigma remains, the State Executive Committee has also discussed this issue in a meeting, and decided to create awareness amongst people not to stigmatise the cured persons.
