Kasaragod(Ker), Apr 10 () Conquering fear is the mostcrucial step in the fight against COVID-19, said two Gulfreturnees who were cured of the deadly disease afterundergoing treatment at the government hospital in this town,Kerala's hotspot for the virus.
Abdul Gafoor (54) and N H Suhail (31), who testedpositive for coronavirus soon after their arrival from Dubai,thanked profusely the doctors, paramedics and other staff atthe hospital for their selfless and dedicated service.
They also shared tips on how not to lose hope and bebrave during the tense period in the hospital.
"Initially I was a bit scared. But when I looked at otherpatients and the hospital staff, who selflessly spent days andnights looking after us, I told myself that this is not thetime to give up."
"Banish fear, embrace vigilance, and half the battle iswon, I told myself and you can see the results now," Gafoor, anative of Kasaragod said.
He had come home on vacation last month to be with hiswife and two sons.
Soon after his arrival, he contracted the disease and got admitted to theGeneral Hospital, where he underwenttreatment for two weeks. Four days after landing in Kerala, Suhail was alsodiagnosed with COVID-19 and admitted to the hospital.
"The experience taught me many lessons: be strong, beresilient and take out fear from the equation. Equallyimportant that it has boosted my trust in our publichealthcare system," he said.
Suhail left the hospital in eight days, but is yet to seehis family, including his two-month-old baby girl.
The two, who were discharged on Saturday last, are awarethat the battle is not over yet and they have to remain underhome quarantine for the next couple of weeks.
We still have to undergo home isolation for another twoweeks and repeat the tests. But we have cleared the firstmajor hurdle, they said.
Anonymous as they were covered from head to toe in theirPPE (Personal Protection Equipment), the hospital staff gaveGafoor and Suhail a warm send off when they walked out of thehospital the other day.
There are mothers, toddlers and even aged people in thehospital who are undergoing treatment for the scourge that iswreaking havoc on humanity.
Gafoor and Suhail are among the first patients inKasaragod to be cured of the disease.
They have been given instructions to be followed oncethey reach their homes.
The medical team that took care of them included doctorsM Kunjiraman, P Krishna Naik, C H Janardhana Naik, K Aparna,Sunil Chandran, Nursing Spdt Snishi, Head Nurses Mini Vincentand Sudha John, Staff Nurse Salim and Dietician Udaif.
It has been 100 days since the first COVID-19 case wasreported in the state and since then, a total of 357 caseshave been confirmed and currently, 258 patients are undertreatment in different hospitals.
The state has reported two fatalities so far. TGBROH ROH
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