India is in dire need of help, as patients suffering from Covid-19 can't even find oxygen cylinders, beds and medicines. People across the world are trying their best to help, no matter how big the sacrifices are. One such brave-heart, who has put the needs of others above his, is Shahnawaz Sheikh from Mumbai. Last year, he sold his Ford Endeavour (SUV) of Rs 22,00,000, to start anoxygen supply scheme in Mumbai.
Speaking to Asian Voice, Shahnawaz said, last year his friend’s wife died due to lack of oxygen and after which he decided to work as an oxygen supply agent for patients in Mumbai. In the second Covid-19 wave that is sweeping India now, Sheikh says his team has helped more than 600 people with oxygen cylinders. “On a daily basis, we get hundreds of calls for help. Sometimes we are able to help and sometimes we fail”.
And now his initiative, the 'Unity & Dignity Foundation' has grown to help thousands of people.He has set up a 24X7 control room, where a team is working day and night in order to coordinate and communicate over phone, with those in need of oxygen cylinders.
Spreading humanity
A group of doctors has set an example of spreading humanity across the city. With the latest technological skills, the group runs two kitchens to provide free meals to around
500 people every day. The fellow doctors started the Covid food tiffin service by creating a system where they don’t need to come in touch with the patients and manage the entire process. They
prepared a database that can be updated as and when required, communicate through Whatsapp, determine locations from Google Maps, and deliver food while saving their
time.
Dentist Brijesh Anil Patel from Ahmedabad said,” I and my friend, Dr Viral Shah, campus director of LJ College, initiated to serve tiffin to all the needy people during the previous lockdown. This time we provide only evening meals, wherein the people have to register before noon daily. As soon as the registration process gets over, our cooks start preparing the food. As we are having a night curfew from 8 pm, the meal is delivered to the patient before 8 pm with a positive message written on it to motivate the patient.
Talking about the team, Dr Patel said, “we are a team of almost 25 people which includes my wife Dr Mili, Dr Ketul Patel, Dr Ashish Patwa, Vishal Sheth, Kunal Shah, Natasha, Shilpa, Manthan Sheth and many other doctors from the US are helping and motivating us in this noble cause. A lot of people are eager to help that some have even offered to lend their cars and other vehicles so that families get food on time. This is a challenging job, but working in a smart and contact-less manner helps us to spread a huge smile on many faces”.
When Asian Voice correspondent asked Dr Prashant Kalavadiya, “How deadly is the second wave of Covid-19? What changes you are seeing while treating patients at the front line”? He says, “there is a massive increase in number of cases in last few days. In comparison to the previous year, the spread has increased which was not at all expected by neither government nor doctors. However, this time, people does not have enough money as they have exceeded their savings. On the other side, the basic rules of social distancing are also not followed. This panicking situation is also because people do not take enough precautions after 1st dose of vaccine. There are number of cases where people have taken both the doses but are still tested positive. This is due to failure of them to follow the protocols as the antibodies develop after 20 days of taking the 2nd dose.”
We have seen a lot of rush at hospitals over the past few weeks. In such a scenario, how do you choose whom to admit?
“Spo2 below 90 requires admission. If patients come with below 90 oxygen we will try arrange bed, Bipep oxygen. So we mostly prioritize on the basis of oxygen level. The patients with 90 or above 90 Spo2 level need no hospitalization. They can be treated with medicines only.”
What’s your response to the violence against all healthcare employees?
“Doctors have never witnessed worse scenario than this. Many a times we feel helpless sometimes as we are unable to provide help to the patients. We are giving our best by working day and night. However, the situation is so much out of control that we also have limitations. Every health care worker is a soldier right now.”
