Team Herald
PONDA: It was a moment of joy for Dr Wilson Fernandes and his family residing at Upper Bazaar, Ponda as his daughter Karen Fernandes pursuing her MBBS studies at a university in the war-torn Ukraine returned home safe on Thursday morning.
Ever since the war broke out in Ukraine, the Fernandes family members were anxious to hear from Karen as she was residing at Kropyvnytskyi and studying in Donetsk National Medical University there.
Dr Wilson, in charge of Dharbandora Primary Health Centre said, “Ever since war broke out in Ukraine I was worried about Karen who is pursuing higher studies in Ukraine. I put my faith in God for her safe return.”
Dr Wilson thanked the Government of India and NRI Commissioner Adv Narendra Sawaikar for their efforts.
Dr Wilson said he met the magistrate two days before the evacuation.
When asked why she chose Ukraine for higher studies, Karen said, “In India there are less medical seats and the recruitment process is also not fair as there are a lot of corrupt practices besides the seats are reserved. Compared to India the education in Ukraine is cheaper.”
Karen said, “I was pursuing my sixth year of MBBS and the final examination was just four months away when the war broke out. People in Ukraine love Goans. I am waiting for the war to end and the situation to return to normal to go back and complete my course.”
She said, “Exams will stand postponed till normalcy returns. We took shelter in bunkers and finally I along with other students reached the Hungarian border on the Indian Embassy’s advice after covering a distance of 1000 kms and strict checking at over 25 locations.”
“Finally I along with other Indian students reached Delhi Wednesday evening and Thursday morning our flight reached Goa. The officials also accompanied us during the journey,” she said.
