For them, days and nights have shrunk into work. And a work that deals with life and death. They know no days and nights, leisure, family time, or even shifts don't bother them. They took up the challenge of humanity since the Covid-19 stuck humanity.
They are the warriors in white.
If they are cautious for their own health, they are cautious because the virus does not spread among the patients, as they have to mingle closely with those 'positive' patients from among us. They are on a 'Save the People' mission
Just as the Covid-19 pandemic has exhausted the global health system and testing humanity, doctors across the world are working round the clock with no significant break as they show an unrelenting commitment and courage to care for the infected people and communicate with their families as well providing support.
They are parents of small children, husbands, newlyweds, sons and daughters.
"These men and women are the backbone of addressing a wide range of health challenges facing the world as they serve the healthcare system and at the front lines to address the pandemic issues," a note from the Ministry of Health (MoH) said.
"We are just doing our duty at the clinics and hospitals and we are in the mission to save life and alleviate their pains," says Dr Mizun Tufail al Rahman, Senior Consultant - Family physician at the Ministry of Health.
"Being positive is the most negative word of the season, a lesson taught by the pandemic Coronavirus during this period of uncertainty. Health workers are in the frontline of Covid-19 team, and this exposes them to hazards including exposure to a pathogen (Covid-1919), fatigue, burnout, psychological stress and the like," Dr Saleha al Jadidi, Head of Consultant Psychiatry and Geriatrics at Al Masarra Hospital.
Dr Rohil Raghavan, CEO of Burjeel Hospitals admits that from the time they became doctors, they have never faced such a crisis.
"There is a lot of risks involved; yes, we all feel exhausted, we are under severe tension but in between all this, there is a huge sense of satisfaction that we can save lives. The harder we try, the more people we can save. On this day for doctors , all that I can say is keep up the great work," he said.
"This July 1, we actually celebrated the second doctors day after the outbreak of the pandemic. Still, it’s raging worldwide, and governments and healthcare workers are struggling to curb and contain the spread and get the maximum number of people to get vaccinated. We are struggling a lot to contain the virus, but no matter what, we’ll continue to do our best as this is our job and life, let me ask one thing in return from the general public: please follow the directives of the authorities and take all precautions to prevent further spread of the disease," pleads Dr Benny Panakkan, Medical Director at Badr Salama Hospitals Group.
"It gives a great feeling that a day has been designated for us, the doctors, that people recognise and appreciate our hard work," says Dr Dilip Singhvi, Specialist Internal Medicine, Apollo Hospital.
"We, doctors by virtue of our training, our commitment to our profession of helping patients in reliving their life's healthy and safe, forget ourselves and for the past one-and-a-half-year this pandemic has increased not only our workload but also our responsibility to treat patients and also made the society realise and recognise the importance of doctors and health care system, how important they are to the community."
When the world is passing through the disastrous Covid-19 pandemic, these frontline warriors in the battle include, predominantly, the doctors, nurses, paramedics, and administration and support staff who sacrifice their lives to save other lives need a big salute.
It is a salute of gratitude, a salute of solidarity and a salute of love.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
