FJ journals - The Student Blog of FJMU

“Health is not valued till the sickness comes” We, globally, can relate to this quote by Thomas Fuller on the face of the pandemic, today’s world is battling against. This pandemic is not only affecting us physically but also socially, emotionally, mentally and spiritually; all the five aspects of Holistic Health. Holistic Health may be an ancient concept but it demands a great deal of attention considering what the humans are facing today. Quoting William Osler, “The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease”, also emphasizes the importance of treating the patient as a whole. When we fall sick, what heals us is not only the medical care but also the emotional support of our loved ones which gives us the willpower to keep fighting against the disease. But when somebody gets affected by COVID-19, they are isolated from their families which takes a toll on them on another level, simultaneously affecting their families’ emotional

THE ILL-INFORMED He switched off the TV after hours of solemn news, completely unprovoked What a spineless population ever so easily coaxed In March, he reassured colleagues the virus wouldn’t reach Pakistan anytime soon As it only attacks the enemies of China, therefore our nation stands immune He promenaded the streets in April, his face covered with a smirk Because a mask is unavailing, according to his social media network And when Eid came in May, he paid a visit to all his town folks To expose them all to his notions, that the pandemic is a hoax June commenced with the ambulance carrying his neighbor with cumbersome breath While he aggressively bellowed warnings that doctors would inject him with death It wasn’t until in the scorching heat of July, he began to shiver in his quilt His aching body wrapped in thick blankets, his ashamed mind wrapped up in guilt And as his fatigued eyes glanced out his bedroom window to observe rainclouds covering the sun He for

Entering into the Corona Isolation Ward with my colleague doctor, wearing personal protective equipment, the ward was sweltering and we had to wear the PPE for straight eight hours without any break. I immediately started sweating but had to endure it. It was a more than 20-bedded male ward and us two doctors had to manage all these patients. Of course we were the hope of life for these patients, who were wearing oxygen masks, trying to contain oxygen in their blood, taking each breath with great effort. I thought I may show this all to the outer world that still thinks this pandemic is not a reality but a ploy. The face shield and visor was blurring my view but I started my duty by monitoring vitals, checking saturation, revising treatment tickets and addressing patients' active complaints etc. A day back, I glanced at the duty roster sent by the administration of the hospital that stated that I had been called for Covid ward duty for a week. As a doctor we have to give our

To the ones who say corona is a drama and they are blaming the doctors, I am writing from the isolation room in Sheikh Zayed Hospital. You'll believe when you'll see your really close relatives, either your parents, grandparents or siblings suffer from it, as they gasp for air; when your heart will drop with the drop of oxygen saturation of your loved ones, and then you will be praying.Then you'll feel like someone has put life in you again when the saturation rises. Nothing is more painful than seeing your loved ones on oxygen supply or worst, on a ventilator. Or when you yourself are tested positive and after every hour you see coffins passing by you, of someone you don't know. The purpose of saying this is that I didn't allow my mother to go outside for two whole months but she somehow got infected. She is hypertensive and diabetic so you can imagine how Covid-19 took a toll on her health; nausea, diarrhoea, fever, light cough and then tachypnoea. Only Allah and