Kottayam, Apr 6: "I will leave this room within a week after defeating you," the braveheart nurse had vowed after contracting the deadly coronavirus while attending to India's oldest COVID-19 survior, expressing unflinching faith in Kerala's health care system.
Last Friday, 32-year old Reshma Mohandas lived up to her promise and walked out holding her head high to her home, where she is now placed under 14-day quarantine, after she and the elderly man and his wife were discharged from the Medical College Hospital here on being cured of th e disease.
Soon after 93-year-old Thomas Abraham, whose recovery has been dubbed as a 'miracle cure' by the medical community, and 88-year old Mariyamma left the hospital, Reshma too headed home but with the resolve to come back and serve the patients after the mandatory two weeks quarantine.
"I will leave this room within a week after defeating you (coronavirus)", Reshma had posted in a WhatsApp group of her friends and colleagues while undergoing treatment in isolation at the hospital.
"I posted that message in the WhatsApp group because I have full faith in Kerala's health system. It is world class," Reshma told reporters from her home.
The nurse, who took care Thomas and Mariyamma since March 12, believes she contracted the disease as she was in close contact with and often talked to the couple, who did not wear masks as it made them uncomfortable.
She said she loved taking care of all their needs.
"I was not tensed at all. I love taking care of elderly people. We used to talk a lot (in the ICU)", she said.
Reshma, who was earlier working in the operating theatre of another section, said she used work for four hours in the ICU before she contracted the virus and was admitted to the same wing as a patient.
"I had close contact with them in the ICU because I paid attention to address their every needs," she said. The first warning sign came on March 23 morning when she had a throat infection.
Reshma immediately alerted the head nurse, who in turn informed the doctors.
She was asked to visit the fever clinic at the Medical College and was later referred to the isolation facility where she took care of elderly novel coronavirus patients.
Some 20 nurses who had come into contact with her were sent to home quarantine.
On March 24, she tested positive.
"I did not have any other complications, barring headache and body pain", she said.
Reshma said she was ready to serve in the isolation facility for COVID-19 patients after 14 days of mandatory home quarantine.
"I am ready to work again in the isolation facility when I return," the feisty nurse, whose husband is an engineer, said.
She was all the more happy that proper medical care at the hospital led to recovery of Abraham and Mariyamma.
Kerala Health minister K K Shailaja telephoned Reshma to express her happiness over her recovery.
The Minister said the news about a health professional contracting the coronavirus was a matter of concern for the state.
In a statement, she hailed Reshma's dedication as a professional and said she had treated elderly patients like her parents, attending to their every need.
The elderly couple, hailing from Ranni village in Pathanamthitta district had contracted the virus from their son, daughter-in-law and grandson who returned from Italy last month, all of whom have also recovered.
The decision was taken by chief minister Siddaramiah, who was looking for a competent and active minister to handle the department of Food and Civil Supplies, after the departure of Dinesh Gundu Rao.
Comments
I am a APL card holder. When we get ration coupons, in coupons for APL 5 kg rice and 5 kg wheat. When we go to ration shop if we say i do not want wheat only 5 kg rice they do not give. They says if you want rice you should take wheat also. Other wise change in your coupon for rice only. But we can not change only rice.
Kindly tell what is the procedure for only rice and no wheat for me.
Sir,
There is shortage of Non subsidised Commercial L.P.Gas cylinder of 19 Kg capacity in the market as HPCL has stopped giving new cylinders to the dealers since past 6 months.
The reason stated is that the turnaround ratio is less than 1 per month.
It is very surprising stand in the open market regime and HPCL has no ground to take such decision in general. The new release is stopped to those dealers who has more than 1 turnaround per month.
Black marketing of commercial cylinders is now a reality.Thanks to HPCL !!!
You are requested to appraise our food minister to manage this issue and oblige.
Regards
Not a good move by CM....Let's see....
Good Move... UTK did better as health minister...
He should also improve the food and civil dept. too... Lets wait before we criticize
this siddu dont have any work to do, Ut khader has done very good job in the field of health all the best for your future work.
One of the biggest blunders of Siddu govt. Outsider Siddu is helping his cheddi dost Ramesh Kumar
New minister in health department has nothing to do. all works are completed my Mr Khader. new one has to just eat, sleep and pose for pics.
congrates. but sad that health dept will be corrupted from today.
congratulation UT Khader, we all NRI's know that u have the capabilty to work in any sector, keep up your good work, lets c what u can do in food and civil supply, being health minister u have given good service as we all know.
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