Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Barnala, May 12

“It’s duty first” for the medical staff ever since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out more than one and a half years ago. Stretched and stressed, doctors and nurses continue to battle it out to save as many lives as possible. The pandemic has brought many hardships for doctors and nurses, especially on personal fronts. Many of them haven’t been able to meet their loved ones and take care of them.

“We have been dealing with the virus for more than a year. Now we have learnt how not to pass the infection. Before leaving for home all of us get thoroughly sanitised. Once we reach home, we make sure that none of the things from hospital enter our houses. My schedule so tight that I am not able to take proper care of my two and a half years old son,” says staff nurse Hardeep Kaur posted at a level-2 isolation facility in Mehal Kalan.

Another staff nurse, Navjot Kaur, working at a level-2 isolation centre in Sohal Patti says often we find ourselves working beyond our mandatory six hours.

“Many a time, we have to assume the role of counsellors. The spirit to save lives has beaten all odds. At the end of day, patients’ smiles and their blessings count the most,” says Parjeet Kaur, another nurse.

Staff nurses Charanjeet Kaur and Gurdeep Kaur, who are working at the Civil Hospital, Barnala, say while nurses working with Covid patients are at risk, others like them working in general wards, too, have been putting their lives at risk.