Bravehearts stand out in war against swine flu

The biggest boon for Mumbai has been its well trained health officials.

Dr Jayraj Thanekar
executive health officer, BMC 
It is because of the excellent teamwork that we have been able to cope with the swine flu crisis,” says Dr Jayraj Thanekar, executive health officer, BMC. “No one can wage a lone battle against an epidemic like situation in a city of Mumbai’s stature.”

The biggest boon for the city has been its well-trained health officers. “Our health team was geared up to tackle the menace of monsoon diseases. So, it did not take us much time to respond to the spread of the H1N1 virus,” he says. As swine flu first struck in other countries, the BMC had some ideas about ways to tackle its spread. “We were prepared for its arrival in India.”

Thanekar says BMC hospitals and laboratories are well equipped and have facilities on a par with the WHO standards. “The most important tool in a civic setup is the liberty given to its officers in emergency situations. I have that liberty.” Thanekar lauds city’s medical students for their role. “Dr Sanjay Oak, dean of Nair Hospital, deserves a special mention for ensuring perfect coordination.”

Dr Ravi Kadam
deputy medical superintendent, Kasturba Hospital

Dr Ravi Kadam refuses to even acknowledge that he works extra hours to pacify panic-stricken people rushing to the city’s first screening centre at Kasturba Hospital. “We are working as a team,” he says. “Many of us have known this virus since 1976. I am not on Tamiflu or any other drug. I am not even using a mask as I know how this virus can behave.” His prior experience of dealing with plague, SARS and bird flu has come to good use, he adds.

Twenty years he has spent, treating infectious diseases at Kasturba Hospital. But never before has he seen so much panic. “People, perhaps, got scared as the state declared epidemic in two districts,” he says. For the past 10 days, he has been going home only after 2am. “Not only me, my entire team of doctors, nurses and technicians are working hard,” he says. “Apart from treating, we also counsel patients.” Talking about the virus, he says that it has been a blessing in disguise. “It will make the coming generations immune to the virus.” He adds that support from all quarters made it easy to tackle the situation.

Dr Abhishek Pandey
resident medical officer, Siddharth Hospital

Since the day the BMC started a screening centre at Siddharth Hospital, Goregaon, more than 500 people have flocked to it. “Even before the centre became fully operational, people started coming to the hospital,” says Dr Abhishek Pandey.

The 25-year-old RMO, along with 22 other doctors, have been working round-the-clock, screening and treating patients. From morning to night, they keep on parroting the same answers to hundreds of patients without losing their cool. “We spend at least 10 minutes explaining the same details of swine flu to each and every patient,” he says. He and many colleagues are working 12 hours at a stretch.

About work pressure, he says some of these doctors are also required to take care of patients admitted in the hospital for other ailments. “We have been simultaneously attending to thousands of patients who come to the out-patient department for problems other than swine flu.” Having never faced such an emergency before, Dr Pandey says it has been a great learning experience. He feels the panic is now subsiding. “People are getting to know the ailment better. So, the patients are no more high-strung,” he says. “We will continue with our services till it dies down completely.”