Doc couple fights virus, one for own life

Rajkot: They are both doctors attending to the same cause in Rajkot’s Samras hostel. But the couple’s individual fight is on a different plane — while he is fighting for others, she is fighting to save her own life.
Dr Mehul Parmar, in charge of the Covid centre, looks after critical patients needing oxygen support. While Dr Harsha Solanki too is in the same ward — she is on a bed under his treatment.
An associate professor in PSM department, Dr Solanki got infected while serving in the Covid facility of the civil hospital. Dr Parmar is a gynaec and in-charge of Samras hostel where infected patients are being referred from the civil hospital. He got his wife admitted in this centre so that he wouldn’t need to take leave from work to care of her.
Talking to TOI, Parmar said, “This is a crucial time and we are 24x7 on duty. I got my wife admitted in an isolation room here where I can take care of her while performing my duty towards other patients.” The couple was on Covid duty even in the last wave of pandemic when he was in charge of Samras hostel, while she was the floor manager.
The couple a 10-year-old son besides his 75-year-old father who has hypertension and 65-year-old diabetic mother.
“I try to balance between my duty and my family, which is really getting tough. I need to also address problems at both ends, home and centre. I have to take care of my small son and aged parents, and so, whenever I get time I go home but sanitize myself well before entering. Being in charge here, I have to address many issues at the hostel too,” he added.
Nearly 1,000 patients being treated in this Samras hostel. Another doctor couple — Dr Ketan Pipaliya and Dr Shital Pipaliya — are also serving at the centre.