4 paramedics make bldg site their new home

Vadodara: It is just another day at their new address for these four young frontline warriors who have made an under-construction site of a community health centre their abode after the battle against coronavirus began.
Working as paramedical staffers of 108 emergency services, Raju Rathwa, Santosh Rathwa, Vijay Parmar and Pradhyuman Khant have been staying here for almost a month now — from cooking to eating and washing utensils together — at the site in Tejgadh village in Chhota Udepur district.
This had been a conscientious decision on part of these valiant four who, on their own volition, chose not to meet their families and keep them safe from infection.
“It has been 28 days now, and we are happy with each other and also at peace knowing that our families are safe,” said Raju, who cooks for all four of them, a skill he picked up while living away from family around eight years ago.
Besides taking precautions like wearing personal protection equipment (PPE) kits, using sanitizers, the four men are also taking care of their diets. “We have shared our responsibilities — each will do what he does best. And Raju cooks the best. He also knows how to make sweets, but we avoid them as we can get cough or cold by consuming sweets,” asserted Khant, who joined the EMT services around three months back.
While Raju, Santosh and Khant handle all kinds of emergencies, Parmar’s work is the most critical. His ambulance is a special Covid-19 vehicle of the district.
“I have an infant son at home for which I have to be extra careful. As a father, I too want to spend time with my newborn son, but I console myself seeing him through video call and the fact that he is safe at a distance,” said Parmar, adding that they are surviving on grains and pulses, fearing infection from vegetable vendors.
“While we are sacrificing homely comfort, our internal cooperation and understanding is helping us survive these difficult times,” Raju added.