The year 2020 will be remembered by citizens irrespective of age and gender due to Coronavirus-19. Many of them lost their near and dear ones, and they could not attend their last rites; many became jobless, without work and debt-ridden; students (of school and college) also witnessed a disturbance in their studies etc. All said and done, we saw Covid-Warriors (including health officials and personnel) fighting against all odds, to make things better, during the crisis. Aurangabad First identified and spoke to three women officers, to know the impact of Covid-19 in their personal lives and why the year will be memorable for them, in their lives. Their motto was Health First (of the citizens) during the pandemic situation.
The warm gesture urging to save her is unforgettable
The health officer of Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) Dr Neeta Padalkar says, " My two close relatives, both females ageing between 60 years and 75 years, left for heavenly abode. While one of them was undergoing treatment in Covid Care Centre at Meltron Company, I met her health in a PPE kit. During the conversation, I saw tears starting to well up in her eyes, and she held my hand in hope. There was no communication but complete silence. Her gesture was enough to understand that she was asking me to help her out from the critical situation. The warmth of her hand made me restless. She is no more between us, but I still feel the warmth of her hand."
My mother is around 80 years and stays in the city, but I was unable to meet her after many months in October. Till then, I just communicated with her through video-calling. I was worried about her health due to her age, and she was worried about me as I was visiting high-risk areas in the city. I also stayed in isolation for months in my own house to ensure other family members'' safety, explained Dr Padalkar.
Doing little for others give satisfaction
Adds a former assistant commissioner Vijaya Ghadge, " I was in charge of shelter camps established for hundreds of migrant workers (with their families) from Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand etc states in the city. On the first day in the last week of March, I visited the camp in Cidco N-6 late in the evening. One woman requested me for milk as her baby was crying continuously. I took pity on her, went to my house, boiled the milk and returned to the camp to give the milk. Smile prevailed on the face of the lady, and the baby immediately stopped crying on getting the milk. Doing little thing for others gives immense pleasure and satisfaction. They all left after a month, but the incident is fresh in my mind till today."
I stayed in a hotel for a couple of months
Elaborated the AMC''s deputy commissioner and Head of Special Task Force, Aparna Thete, " We faced hardship during the initial days of Covid-19 while on duty and in our lives. My team and I were tracing the persons coming in contact with Covid-19 patients from containment zones and send them for further treatment. During this period, I had to stay separate from my family in a hotel for more than two months. I got reunited with my family at home in the May-end. Later on, I went on 20 days long leave as I fell ill in July. For the first time in my life, I took such a long leave other than my delivery. Apart from this, my son''s birthday was in April, but on seeing my job responsibilities and hectic schedule, he claimed that he does not want to celebrate his birthday due to my absence. These small remain fresh in my memory."