Restoring people's faith in state-owned hospitals was key to battling Covid-19, government doctors in Chhattisgarh said on the eve of National Doctors Day on July 1.
Making Covid victims and their families believe that government hospitals could be relied upon during the first and second wave of the pandemic was a challenge, said Dr Paras Patel, the Sigma block medical officer in Baloda Bazar district.
Father of a three-year old daughter, Dr Patel kept away from his family for four months during the first wave of Covid. In the second, he stayed with his family but made all efforts to keep the daughter and other family members safe.
Pediatrician Dr Rajesh Dhruve of the District Hospital at Dantewada said the medical field throws up several challenges.
Besides various diseases, the other bigger challenge is geographical barriers of remoteness, with many villages cut off during monsoon.
Dr Dhruve made efforts to establish a Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) at Dantewada and a 20-bed nutrition rehabilitation centre (NRC) for children.
For his contribution, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in February 2019 awarded him. He found place in "Time" magazine for saving a girl child whose face was attacked by insects.