Hyderabad: In the dark and depressing times of coronavirus and communal hatred here is a silver lining.
As Dr Mahboob Khan, along with two other doctors in his family — his wife and daughter — entered their colony in Begumpet, Hyderabad, after a tiring day of attending to coronavirus patients in different government hospitals across the city, they were in for a pleasant surprise. A large number of their neighbours and colony residents had lined up outside their home, showering them with flower petals and applause. They were there to say “Thank you” to a family that was fighting against an invisible enemy at a great personal risk.
“People from all communities came forward to felicitate us and appreciate our role. That is the beauty of India”, Khan told Gulf News.
Rajinder, president of Indian Airlines Colony Welfare Association that was leading the well-wishers, hailed the Khans as a family of “super heroes”.
“These are the real heroes fighting the deadly COVID-19 virus from the front. We are here to salute you,” Rajinder said as people lined up to present bouquets and shawls.
Raghuram Reddy, another resident, wanted to hug Dr Khan had there been no social-distancing restriction. “They deserve every bit of this recognition. This is a brave family fighting for all of us”.
At a time when the threat of the coronavirus pandemic has seen a virulent and deadly campaign of communal hatred against Muslims and organised propaganda has been unleashed by some people to stigmatise an entire community — following the Tableeghi Jamat episode in Delhi — the Khan family’s story has caught the imagination of a common man and a minister alike.
Though it is sad to see how some elements in society are trying to give a religious and communal colour to the pandemic, Dr Khan said he or his family never faced any such slur. “In our case, people from all communities came forward to felicitate us and appreciate our efforts. That is the beauty of India,” he said.
“For us, it was never about a Hindu or a Muslim. Everybody was a patient and we always worked like professional doctors to save lives. The prayers of a recovered person is all that matters to us”, he said.
Propaganda falling flat
“Some people initially tried to project a particular community as the villain, but later, most of them realised that no particular group or religion could be responsible. If initially there were more Muslim patients, later, we also had patients from other communities and across all religions. That is how the propaganda fell flat.”
Dr Mahboob Khan, the superintendent and administrative head of a premier government chest hospital in Hyderabad, has spent the best part of the last two months in protective gear, running from ward to ward, motivating and encouraging his colleagues and other staff members, mobilising the resources at hand and working and praying to save every single patient coming to his hospital.
So far, 400 cases of coronavirus have been reported in his hospital, with 300 of them being admitted there. All but two were discharged after recovery and there have been no deaths so far.
His wife, 48-year-old Dr Shahana, is the assistant professor at Gandhi Hospital in another part of the city. Gandhi Hospital serves as the nodal institution in the fight against coronavirus.
However, it is the youngest and third doctor in the family, the feisty daughter Rashika, a house-surgeon, who has made the story more inspiring. She had her baptism by fire as she started her medical career on March 26, in the thick of the pandemic. At Gandhi Hospital, Dr Rashika’s very first day at work was in a ward for coronavirus patients. “I was not afraid. I rather felt proud to get this opportunity to fight and save lives,” said Dr Rashika. “May be it is in my blood. Both my parents are an example for me,” she added.
The Kerala model
56-year old Dr Mahboob Khan has completed 25 years in service and the state government has used his rich experience as a pulmonologist in charting out a strategy to counter the virus outbreak in the state. He was part of the team that the Government of Telangana had sent to Kerala to study how the state had successfully treated the first three coronavirus patients and how it was dealing with the crisis. He came back motivated and energised. “Kerala has always been far ahead of the other states in our country. Their three-tier health-care system and the well-oiled state machinery played a major role in this success. They have fought against COVID-19 the same way as they had faced other calamities, including the floods in the past”, observed Dr Khan.
Back home in Hyderabad, as the first case of coronavirus was reported in the state on March 1, Dr Khan and his team was prepared with a plan. “Initially, there were apprehensions among my staff members about their personal safety. However, after counselling sessions and assurances that they would be fully taken care of, they wholeheartedly joined in the efforts. Our focus was to save the lives of the people. In the end, what mattered was the result and the blessings of the patients”, said Dr Khan.
He said, the fightback was possible, thanks to the advance measures undertaken by the Government of Telangana, with Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao leading the fight from the front. “The government alerted us to the threat well in advance and sufficient resources were made available. Isolation wards were opened on a war footing with all the necessary equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE),” he added. “Very soon, the fear and uncertainty among the health workers gave way to positive energy. Within four-five days, our staff members were fully geared up and mentally ready to fight back.”
For Dr Shahana, it is ‘double duty’ as a doctor and homemaker. Her 72-year old mother Azimunnisa also needs her care and attention as she is diabetic and has hypertension. “These are stressful times and one has to face it,” Dr Shahana said with a smile. With three doctors at home and another one in the making in the form of their youngest son Rehaan, COVID-19 was bound to dominate all conversation at home.
Personal safety
With so many doctors, nurses and health-care workers all over the world falling victim to the deadly virus, did personal safety and protection ever worry them?
“As doctors, for us, the risk is always part of the game and we go out every morning with confidence and a prayer. We are aware of what is happening elsewhere, but there is no fear in our minds. Our extended families are concerned. Fortunately, most of them are doctors too. They cautioned us, but never discouraged us from working in the wards with coronavirus patients,” Dr Khan explained.
Who else, but a doctor
In numerous Indian cities, there have been instances of neighbours objecting to doctors and health-care workers staying in their apartments and even home owners have asked such tenants to vacate their apartments. The fear of infection has led to the stigmatisation of an entire profession, so to speak. “Fortunately, we did not have any such bitter experience in our colony where educated people and professionals live. Initially, there were some doubts, but gradually they realised the importance of the work we were doing. They realised that after all, only doctors can lead the fight against this threat and treat people. Who else can do it? So, gradually people started inquiring about our well-being. In fact, respect and support have gone up for us now.”
However, for the Khans, the biggest motivation has come from senior state minister K. Taraka Rama Rao (KTR), who has hailed them as his “heroes”.
“Today, I have not one but three ‘Citizen Heroes’, all from the same family”, KTR, the Minister for Municipal Administration, tweeted. “Unmindful of their own safety, Dr Mahboob Khan, his wife Dr Shahana Khan and daughter Dr Rashika Khan have dedicated themselves to fight Coronavirus at Gandhi, Chest and Koranti hospitals. Kudos to you guys,” he said in his tweet.
“That was a very important recognition”, a beaming Dr Mahboob Khan said. “We are thankful to the minister for the recognition. The local media was also very positive and it boosted our morale.”
Khans are quite positive and hopeful about the future. “There is no doubt we will win against this enemy and soon the situation will change. Time is the biggest healer. India will come out stronger from this crisis. But for now, we need to put up a united fight and everybody should do his or her bit. We are coming out to fight for you, so you please stay at home. Strictly maintain social distancing to win this war, is the message that the Khans have for people.
