Young doctor leading fight against invisible foe
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 01, 2021 -

NOTWITHSTANDING the unprecedented hardships besetting the commoners, the poor and working class section of the society in particular, there have been various acts of benevolence and sense of camaraderie among the people even as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc and create dread in the state.

Compared to detection of a handful of few Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2020 setting off a mass hysteria and briefly leading to individual or club-imposed shutdowns in residential pockets, admonishing the medical professionals and discriminating the infected persons and their families, there has been ample signs of maturity or considerateness towards the patients and the medical personnel with the advancement of the pandemic.

Having realised that everyone is vulnerable to contract the virus and noting the role of doctors and their support staff as well as the law enforcement personnel in the fight against the unseen adversary, many organisations and individuals have been extending help and conveying moral support to the frontline workers apart from assisting the affected families through distribution of essential items.

No doubt, public complacency or ignorance in following the safety protocols and ineffectiveness of the virus prevention measures on the part of the government had been aggravating the medical crisis.

However, such a precarious situation has also brought to the fore steely resolve of some individuals like Dr Yaikhomba Taorem of Shija Hospitals to ensure that the virus is contained at any cost.

In-spite of his normal duty in the private hospital, which is one of the busiest healthcare facilities in the state, Dr Yaikhomba backed by some volunteer nurses has been doing outstanding service to both Covid-19 positive and non-Covid sick children.

Activities of Dr Yaikhomba's team might be confined to only Konthoujam assembly constituency but his humane gesture has potential to encourage other healthcare professionals to join the fight against the contagion at their respective personal level and capacity.

Contrary to the various measures and policies of the government technically centred on damage control exercise, the young doctor's endeavour is practically based on providing timely service and counselling at the doorstep of the patients and preventing possible spread of the disease to the neighbourhood and beyond.

Accepted that there might be others like Dr Yaikhomba, who are eager to share their experience and expertise to those in need in such a challenging situation but are compelled to limit their service at the place of duty only, but his decision to extend free treatment to both Covid-19 positive and negative children is invaluable, which every citizen would wish that others would try to emulate.

It needs no reminding that if Manipur has more medical practitioners like the Shija paediatrician then the battle against the virus could be won hands down as the youngsters with or without Covid symptoms and their parents wouldn't have to take the risk of getting infected from hospital set-up.

Taking into account of the fact that there has been no official explanation about how and where one contracts the infectious disease, other than blaming the public of defying the safety guidelines, Dr Yaikhomba shouldering the responsibility to treat the kid patients within the safest environment of home is not only commendable but is also the most effective way to prevent spread ofthe pandemic as well as avoiding infection.