Dr. Juri Sarma and Co. perform 'Dhamail' in PPE at Silchar Civil Hospital's COVID ward for patients

Very little to do and plenty of time. Life in isolation wards for the mildly symptomatic patients is boring at best and depressing at worst. A few tablets couple of times a day is all the treatment needed yet patients cannot roam around as they possess the potential threat of infecting others. A lot to talk about but hardly anyone to listen. Many Covid survivors across the world described their days in isolation as the worst ever period that they’ve lived.

In the second wave of Coronavirus infections, the fatality has grown manifold. More than 150 patients have been declared dead in Barak Valley after testing positive for Covid 19 since April 1. Most people have lost someone they know and in such circumstances, the peace of mind takes a toll.

But as “The Beatles” say, “Hey Jude don’t make it sad…  Then you can start to make it better.” Dr. Juri Sarma (MBBS MS ENT) and Co. were seen dancing ‘Dhamail’ in a PPE kit at SM Dev Civil Hospital Silchar. Many patients joined them and albeit temporarily, they had a great time. “Sisters and cleaners who were on the last day of their seven-day batch came to me and said that they want to do something for the patients before they end their shift. So, we went to the female wards and there was a patient named Priya who sang a song with us. Our sister Shakti is also a brilliant singer,” informed Dr. Juri Sarma while speaking with Barak Bulletin.

Then they went to another ward where there were a few elderly patients under treatment. “We went there and again it was on the request of the staff we performed for the patients and they too joined in,” Dr. Sarma added. It was a full-fledged Dhamail dance that people in this region are accustomed to seeing during weddings and other happy occasions. Dhamail is a folk dance popular among the Sylheti people and the Covid patients were seen dancing to the tunes of common Dhamail songs. Dr. Juri Sarma was accompanied by Dr. Rajat De, Sister Shakti and Cleaner Amit Chetri and a video of their performance has been shared by the Cachar district administration.

Dr. Juri Sarma says it is very important to address the mental health of the patients admitted to the isolation wards. “The medicines that are given to them are basically immunomodulators and it is important for them to be at a good mental state for these medications to work,” says Sarma. Immunotherapy is the treatment of disease by activating or suppressing the immune system.

Dr. Juri Sarma herself is a Covid survivor and she was one of the first doctors in Silchar to get infected during the first wave of Coronavirus infections last year. When the vaccination drive began in India earlier this year, she was the first individual in Barak Valley to get the jab. “These are just coincidences,” she says. However, she adds, “I believe it is important to enjoy every moment in life and that is what I try to do even in the COVID ward while in PPE.”

Dr. Sarma is from Guwahati but she has been staying in Silchar for the last 20-years. Her husband is the HOD, Radiology at Silchar Medical College and Hospital.