It has been 5 good months since the novel Coronavirus picked up in Goa. Unlike now, Goa's infection number is nearing 33,000 and have lost over 400 people to COVID-19.
We as Goans, remembered and prayed for our near and dear ones, who got infected and are struggling for their lives, but very few have remembered those who contributed and continued working during the pandemic because their jobs called for it and who, ultimately, sacrificed their lives in taking care our near and dear ones.
These front lines soldiers I call them as, during the Coronavirus pandemic were seeing patients pass away at what one can feel like extremely hurting. They had to handle the grief of those deaths while tending to other patients that still need their care, it’s a struggle to manage those emotions. And for some it was devastating consequences for their emotional health and well-being.
Do you remember Dr Edwin Gomes, who was infested for timely attending Covid-19 patients, giving farewell by hugging each one as their Covid-19 test turned negative and had survived mercilessly, but the other three doctors, who couldn't survive was heart breaking. Lastly, Dr Mario Godinho, who we understood fell from the bed and injured himself and later died of Covid 19 - how one can digest this haunting news - where does the integrity of a doctor/s stand here? On the flip side, bureaucrats fancy high-end private hospitals like Manipal at Dona Paul, where they get the best of treatment at exchequer's cost, recover and get a farewell of fresh floral bouquet.
So, in this context, these front line Doctors and other personnel who died, sacrificing their lives, should have been airlifted to the best hospitals in India. To conclude, we should not only say RIP for these God loving doctors, but RIP to those who have managed Goa with such heartless discrimination.
GASTON DIAS, Sarzora
