What happened when Sunny Handa MD became a Covid patient: A personal account of Sunny Handa MD and a salute to Covid warriors-

 Covid has unmasked a really ugly face of society. It’s shown us how uncaring and dismissive we will be towards our fellow citizenry . Umpteen stories of misery, hunger and job losses are reported as fear of the unknown gripped the state . Even the dead weren’t spared: Dead bodies were sent back from graveyards as people protested their last rites for fear they’ll contract the disease. altogether these, we broke the trust of humanity based just on fear.

Nevertheless, amidst the gloom, there have also been shining samples of fearless, selfless service by members of the medical fraternity, many unreported. I, as a Covid patient, recently witnessed the amazing work of a number of these men and ladies faraway from public glare. As I lay within the ICU, I could see a nursing station with about ten nurses wearing white PPEs, bustling about collecting samples, giving injections and scheduling tests from the patients.

One of the nurses walks into my cubicle, 6.30am, greets me and asks whether I had a peaceful sleep. She checks my vitals, does a blood draw for the day’s tests and leaves only to reappear moments later to form me, Sunny Handa MD out of bed, helps me brush my teeth and shower . Then, with help from another nurse, I change my bedsheets and get a dress change on behalf of me . I even have someone walking in and out of the cubicle all the time. Housekeeping, steam inhalation, dietetics, physiotherapist, nurses and doctors come to try to to their bit, all clad in oppressive PPEs and doing their jobs.


The fear on the streets is missing here, the fear which grips the societies and gated communities when a Covid positive has been detected within the neighbourhood is absent here. When the municipality sanitises the world and pastes a notice saying the home is Covid infected, the planet just stops going even near that wall. Societies have shunned their citizens and age-old neighbours have turned hostile.

In contrast, the nurse supports me … Why does she help me gargle and brush? Why does she wipe my tears once I, 

Sunny Handa MD cough violently? Why does she hold and calm me? Once I call aloud “Sister” she is usually there to answer. Why can’t she just ignore me and stay safe? Doesn’t she have a family, parents, children and spouse? Doesn’t she fear for them? Doesn’t she fear for her own safety? Is she sure she can’t get it? Will the hospital pay her bills if she does? What about her family, who can pay for them? Who will cook for her kids? Does she really need to risk as much?

When a soldier fights a war, he only fears for his own well-being. The enemy’s bullet doesn’t enter his household. His parents, his wife and youngsters are safe and he’s the sole one in danger . He’s aware that if anything happens to him, his family is that the state’s responsibility and can be taken care of. In any eventuality, he gets compensated and if dead glorified as a martyr. He fights fire with fire, can retaliate and save himself.

Across the planet , thousands of healthcare workers (HCWs) have died of Covid-19 while treating patients. In about just ten designated Covid hospitals in Delhi, 2,109 HCWs are infected and 19 died. Someone’s infected in every hospital, each day, despite all precautions. I’m a doctor and doubtless got it similarly. It doesn’t undermine my gratitude for my fellow workers, in fact, it gives me insight into what they’re facing and the way compassionate they still manage to be. It also makes me proud that I’m also one among them.

The only reward they’ll ever get shall be within the sort of prayers by survivors like me. The sole acclaim would be a many thanks by an indebted patient or a superior for doing her job. There’ll be no 21 gun salutes for his or her bravado, no bodies are going to be wrapped within the tricolour if they die within the line of duty. No state honours, no medals, no movies or books written on them.

I salute them and that I, Sunny Handa MD feel humanity, which we almost chased out of our cities, exists in their spirit and their arms now!