From treating in PPE to becoming a patient himself- Dr Dawipayan Deb’s COVID-19 journey

26th July 2020, I received a call from my father complaining about his fever and malaise. I somehow convinced him to get tested and to my surprise, he turned out to be Covid-19 Positive. My mother and I went along as well and were awaiting our RT-PCR report at home. Two days later, I was informed of being positive from one of my acquaintances in the media. I called up the District Administration to verify the information and to my surprise, the news was authentic. Home isolation wasn’t that verbal back then, but as a doctor, I was confused if I should opt for hospital isolation.

Soon, I realised that it was better for me and my family if I get shifted to a hospital as the social stigma attached to the disease is much more dangerous than Covid-19 itself. On calling up the administration, I soon learnt that there was an acute shortage of ambulance services in the district and hence I had to wait for a day to get myself admitted at Silchar Medical College & Hospital.

While walking down the path from my home to the ambulance, I could see people peeking from their windows, gathering near shops with blank stares. Probably they were afraid and curious at the same time. But honestly, it was quite embarrassing for me. It may seem an exaggeration of my human emotions but I felt like a criminal walking down to a police van. I was able to relate myself with the thousands of COVID Patients who would have to face the same social stares even after they recover from the disease. Anyway, I kept smiling along the way and reached my alma mater within a few minutes. I was greeted with smiles and a bucket full of essential items like toothpaste, soap and of course a gamucha. It was a delight to watch my colleagues and seniors working in PPE suits and it felt more like home.

I was allotted a room along with a caring junior of mine who had also tested positive. I was a little anxious to be on the other side of the road. It is a totally different experience for a doctor to be treated as a patient during a pandemic. The Covid Ward was a whole new world for me. I was observing other patients. The way they reacted to their surroundings and circumstances, The anger and frustration were palpable. I met children who were singing and playing around the wards. It was probably a short vacation for these innocent souls. But their energy and smiles kept the ward ‘positive’. Somewhere you could spot an elderly mother being taken care of by her only young daughter. The Covid Ward was also a spot for hotshot discussions. As the sun would set, you will find people discussing politics and its role in Covid. It was probably the most trending topic then. There were conspiracy theories about how Covid is just fake propaganda used to silence the general public before elections. But to my surprise, the same people would be the ones worried whenever a patient in their room started displaying serious symptoms. Probably they were all confused just like the outside world.

During my short stint at the hospital, I met a number of patients. I tried to help them with whatever resources I had. But then, I also realised the immense pressure the healthcare system of our country is going through. Probably it’s our karma for not having invested resources into healthcare when we really had to. But there’s something positive about being positive too. Our necessity has given strength to a unified voice that demands health for all and I hope that this fire stays alive even after the pandemic is over.

I am fortunate enough that both me and my father tested negative recently and are now healthy and fine.

I request the people of this valley not to discriminate against the recovered Covid patients. After all, we are all humans, with or without the virus.

The author of this article Dr Dawipayan Deb is the Medical Officer at National Health Mission.