Meet this doctor of Chhattisgarh who treats COVID-19 patients as her family

This Navratri, ETV Bharat is introducing you to women who proved their mettle during the Coronavirus crisis by serving the society. Dr Lalita Sharma, Corona Warrior of Raipur, who counselled the patients as her family members who are undergoing treatment in home isolation and did not let their morale go down. Dr Sharma has been working in the COVID-19 ward of a government hospital in Raipur since the beginning of the pandemic.

Raipur: While it’s an inexplicably difficult phase for all doctors around the globe due to the coronavirus Pandemic, ETV Bharat reported several stories and experiences of doctors who, away from their own families, are facing the pandemic as Corona Warriors.

Dr Lalita Sharma, the Corona Warrior of Raipur, counselled the patients undergoing treatment in home isolation and did not let their morale go down.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Dr Lalita Sharma said That her job as a doctor is to render service and she is helping people during this gloomy situation. People who have tested positive; they are counselled and provided with all the necessary help that they may require.

Reporter: What kind of problems did you face when counselling people?

Dr Lalita Sharma:We also have fear of Corona; so we are trying to fulfil our duty while keeping in mind all safety precautions. The public has also become aware of now. They are taking care of their safety. When we go home after work, we sanitize ourselves. At home also, we try to live in a separate room. A lot of times we would receive panic calls from patients. We had to explain to them. Initially, the calls we received, most patients used to say that we do not have any symptoms; despite that, we have tested positive. People used to get nervous; at such times we helped through counselling. Several times patients would get angry on us; however, we never lost our cool and tried our best to explain things to them.

Reporter: How difficult is it to convince people?

Dr Lalita Sharma: It was very difficult to explain to people in the initial phase. The patients could not understand the difference between hospitalization and the Covid-19 centre. Those people who did not have a separate home isolation facility at home were sent to Covid-19 Center. But when the vehicle used to arrive to pick up the patient, he would panic. They thought that they were being hospitalized directly and that they would never come back after going to the hospital. During that time, we managed to explain to people with great difficulty. However, gradually people understood.

Reporter: Where did you study? How did you become a doctor?

Dr Lalita Sharma: Dad has been in the Air Force and my brother is a retired colonel. From the beginning, I have seen my family serving the country. My father wished that his daughter should become a doctor and I also wished the same. I had a kind of special affinity with the ‘word’ doctor. After school, I completed my B.Sc from Degree College. During that time pre-Ayurveda and pre-medical used to be together, I was selected in BAMS. I became a doctor with the support of good teachers, guides and family.

Reporter: How do you see the role of women during Covid-19?

Dr Lalita Sharma: Women organize all the work at home and outside in an orderly manner. They manage all their work by managing time. The family also needs to be looked after and work must be done as well. By the grace of Goddess, there is so much energy within us that we complete all the work. Women have also fulfilled their responsibility well during Covid-19.

Reporter: What message would you like to give to women?

Dr Lalita Sharma: Nothing can happen without education; so all girls and all women should study. There is a great need for self-confidence in women. Our first teacher is our mother. I would request all the mothers to give good education to their children. Let them stand on their feet and make themselves self-dependent.