Australian citizen doctor walks to Civil hospital where he studied medical, offers his voluntary services in Covid ward

Ahmedabad: ‘Whatever I am, I am because of Civil hospital. When my mother institution requires me, I can not sit at home’, says Dr. Hitesh Patel who voluntarily decided to offer his services at Civil hospital in Asarwa for Covid-19 patients.

Dr. Hitesh Patel is old student of BJ Medical college which is part of the Civil hospital. Dr. Patel is a doctor based in Australia. He is Australian citizen. By chance, he was in India when lock down was announced. For last one and half month, he is offering his services at Civil hospital for Covid-19 patients by his own wish.

Dr. Patel came to Civil hospital around one and half month ago and contacted the hospital Superintendent Dr. JP Modi to offer his service in Coronavirus ward. Dr. Patel said he decided to serve Covid patients at Civil hospital and contacted the Superintendent of Civil hospital for the same. He received positive response and joined the duty.

Dr. Patel is expert of trauma and mental diseases.

Speaking about his experience of treating Covid-19 patients, Dr. Patel said, ‘mental treatment and counseling play major role in Covid-19 along with medical treatment. In other kinds of illnesses, relatives of patients would visit the hospital, gather there, converse with patient and inquire about his/her health, while in Covid-19 there’s completely a different situation. A patient is alone on hospital bed. A patient feels mental stress and loneliness. In such situation, even just conversing with patients and listening to them make them feel better.’

Dr. Patel said, he had returned from Australia before lockdown. When Coronavirus started spreading, he could read number of reports with negative tint regarding Civil hospital. As a former student of same hospital, he would feel bad as he had always seen the doctors working with full dedication here.

DeshGujarat