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Dr Asangba Tzüdir
Doctors and nurses are the ones who know what it means to be in a real Covid-19 situation being in the death zone. Especially in the worst affected countries, the sights of numerous dead bodies in body bags are a normal affair for them knowing that they too would meet the same fate. And yes, many doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals have died worldwide while on the line of duty. A heartbreaking sacrificial story among the many is of two nurses who were twin sisters. Their sister said that the two always believed they would die together. “They always said they had come into the world together and would go out together as well.” Alas! Their wish fulfilled in death.
“I don’t want the money, I just want my daughter back”, says a father in tears being left with no option but to sign the insurance cover document amounting of 50 lakhs for her daughter who is an intern at a certain Covid-19 designated hospital in India. Next in line of duty are the final year MBBS students.
Here in Nagaland, the exercise has not gone beyond the restrictions associated with the lockdown. And because the lone patient was not treated in Nagaland, and barring some mock drills, thankfully, Nagaland is yet to encounter real-time situation. However, the next two weeks is very crucial and critical for Nagaland especially in the context of stranded citizens coming back to Nagaland from different parts of the country, with more than 7000 destined for Dimapur alone. Infrastructure especially for quarantine and service delivery continues to be the main challenge.
Even as the number of Covid-19 positive cases grows by the day, it has been roughly estimated that it will take about 18 to 24 months to bring the Covid-19 situation to some level of control. Considering such an estimate, the situation calls for a dual responsibility of learning to fight Coronavirus, while at the same time learning to live with it even as the scale constantly tilts between the need to revive economy, and to control the pandemic. It is a moral dilemma when the issue at hand pertains to both life and death.
With the declaration of the Covid-19 as a global pandemic, it all started with a sincere appeal to ‘stay at home’ except for the front line workers whose duty has assumed much more importance and significance than ever before. Irrespective of whether it is a real-time situation or preparedness situation in context, a sincere THANK YOU to all the frontline workers – Administration, police department and most importantly the doctors and nurses the world over, who have sacrificed their lives and continues to do so. Let’s spare a thought for them, for nothing is greater than their sacrifice, wherein life is put at stake.
As for Nagaland, irrespective of religion, we need to come together as law abiding citizens in helping the frontline workers serve us better; so also pray that Nagaland is spared of Covid-19 pandemic because the State is still in ‘preparation’ mode in all the important fronts.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com.)
