Deepening Covid crisis brings out the best human spirit among Ranchiites

Ranchi: At a time when families of Covid-19 patients are running from pillar to post looking for hospital beds, oxygen cylinders and other services and are often times being duped by false information circulating on social media or are feeling helpless owing tothe unavailability of government assistance, a few college students in Ranchi have taken it upon themselves to help out such hassled families with verified information regarding the availability of plasma.
Under the stewardship of one Sadique, a few undergrad students have formed a WhatsApp group to disseminate verified information regarding plasma donation. The group members -- Aditi Siddhant, Saima, Swati and Shamam – also operate an Instagram page, known as Plasma donors Ranchi, and coordinate with people in need of plasma. “We help people with arranging and donation of plasma,” Aditi said.
Meanwhile, a few social outfits here have started providing essential services like oxygen cylinders to patients. For example, Marwari Bhavan, which was already helping the families of Covid victims in arranging the last rites, has started distributing oxygen cylinders and is also refilling the old ones. Another group named Jharkhand Prantiya Marwari Yuva Manch has started a service called Jeevan Dhara, as part of which it is distributing oxygen cylinders across all its 61 branches in Jharkhand.
A few good samaritans are delivering vegetables and fruits at the doorstep of Covid patients, who are in home isolation, free of cost through the newly launched Wooshaa App. Even medicine shops are delivering items free of cost to patients’ homes.
Harmu Housing colony resident Abhishek, an engineer by profession who recently recovered from Covid-19, is sharing positive and encouraging posts on his social media handles to help patients, especially those in home quarantine, recover fast. “When I was sick, I was afraid and now try to tell people that they can also recover by remaining positive,” he said. Abhishek has shared his number on his social media platforms so that patients can reach out to him for counselling.
The aforementioned initiatives have been lauded by patients. For example, Somnath Sen, a resident of Purulia Road who recently tested positive, got calls from the state health department, enquiring about his health. Sen, who was in home isolation, requested the caller for medicines and an oximeter but he was refused. “I was told that the government help desk is only supposed to enquire if I have all the required medical equipment at home. It is not their job to provide the patients with any equipment. Needless to say, in a such a situation, the philanthropic gestures by some people, like providing medicines at our doorsteps, is much appreciated,” Sen said.