Ahmedabad: Sixteen students who have just completed MBBS from GMERS Medical College in Gandhinagar have launched a new initiative by announcing mobile numbers as Free Helpline so that people can get any information about Covid-19 over the phone. The helpline receives 35 to 40 calls daily.
The youths have recently passed from GMERS Gandhinagar and are working in the field of medicine in different districts of the state. Some are serving in Surendranagar while others are serving in PHC Centers in Anand. But along with this, they have made 4 teams of four friends each and started a total of 16 helplines.
Four teams work from 8 am to 12 noon to operate the helplines. However, these helpline numbers can be contacted even after 12 noon. Importantly, since this is an NGO initiative, the helplines only provide guidance regarding Coronavirus.
Free Helpline member Dr Meet while speaking to ETV Bharat said that his team has decided to extend this service in shifts and based on which these 16 numbers are announced. Anyone who needs help can get in touch, he said. As medical professionals, we have to treat our patients while being in physical proximity with each other, but during this time of the pandemic, we also have to reach out to as many without being in the same space.
Also read: Mehsana's village of 'elders' has no COVID19 cases till date
He also said that a 70-year-old Corona patient contacted their helpline, and inquired about what he should be eating and what the do's and dont's are. Following the information he had obtained, he defeated Corona, called again 10 days later to thank the helpline.
Dr Meet Doshi says "During Corona's time, our group of people had an internship at the hospital. At that time we had the benefit of serving patients. After completing the internship, we came up with the idea of starting a helpline during a discussion on how we can help people who are affected by the Coronavirus. Apart from this, we have also lost several members of our own families to corona. We haven't been able to save them, but we're trying to make sure no one else has to lose their life."
