Punjab: Muslim doctors, paramedic staff work through Ramzan, win hearts

MALERKOTLA: Even as most of them are fasting during the Ramzan, Muslim doctors and paramedical staff at the civil hospital and Covid centre here are attending to Covid-19 patients, mostly pilgrims returning to Sangrur district from Nanded in Maharashtra. The Muslim-majority Malerkotla town though does not have a single active case of its own, as of now.
“We have 35 Covid-19 patients, mostly Nanded Sahib returnees, from various parts of Sangrur district. They have been kept in a separate isolation ward. We have around 15-20 Muslim doctors and paramedical staff members involved in the fight against Covid-19.
Although most of them are fasting, they are taking best care of the patients, both positive and suspected ones,” said Jaswinder Singh, senior medical officer (SMO) at the civil hospital here.
These doctors and paramedical staff members are also part of the team that is screening daily 500-600 persons going out of the state, he said.
On their part, the Muslim doctors and paramedical staff say they would remember this challenging time throughout their lives.
“Since the outbreak of pandemic, I have worked at isolation ward and also doing screening of patients. Being a mother of twin daughters, who are around one-and-half years old, I have to look after them too. My grandmother takes care of them when I am on duty. Work for me is like worship. It is very challenging for me and other staff members, who are fasting during Ramzan,” said Dr Sameen Zahra, a Covid warrior, who heads the team that screens persons wanting to go their states.
“However, there is a satisfaction that I am serving people at a time when they need our services most. I am also given evening duties and we don’t even have time to break fast (Iftar) properly, but then it is part of job,” she added.
“Taking care of patients when we are fasting will earn us blessings from the Allah as Ramzan is the month of blessings. We feel satisfied that we are working for the people in such trying times,” said Dr Bilal, a medical officer at the hospital.
Residents of the town are also appreciating the efforts of Muslim doctors and paramedics. “We are thankful to them for taking care of patients in such testing times, despite fasting in Ramzan. We can only wish that the God showers His blessings on them,” said Zulfikar Ahmed, a resident of town.