Helpline created by Women Doctors for Covid-19 Patients in Delhi's Vasant Vihar

By: WE Staff | Monday, 26 April 2021

The initiative started by the group of five women doctors is helping people in dispel stress, fear, and anxiety among people during the pandemic in Delhi's Vasant Vihar. These women doctors have started free consultations through teleconferencing. The programme aims to increase the motivation of Covid-19 patients who are confined to their homes.

Doctors respond to questions free of charge via phone, video conferencing, and WhatsApp as part of the initiative. These doctors have been responding to over 800 queries a day, according to India Today.

Treatments are prescribed to people who post their CT scan records. Many in need of beds and oxygen will find them at hospitals all over the area. Residents are also given instructions on how to handle Covid-19 on their own.

Residents can also have their Covid-19 and blood tests performed with the aid of the doctors' volunteer network. The group also organises vaccinations for qualified residents in the district, says Dr. Reetika Sharma, one of the five doctors.

Parul Gaur, Joint Secretary of Vasant Vihar Welfare Association (VVWA), said, "We launched several helplines when the pandemic hit India last year. But with the rise in cases in the second wave, we have been inundated with innumerable messages on social media. As members of RWA, we are not allowed to advise. Therefore, this helpline was initiated so that the doctors in the Vasant Vihar area, especially women doctors, offer services on Covid-related complications to the society residents."

Dr. Dipika Loganey, MBBS, MD, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist, said she was happy to help not only pregnant women but also people who sought help over health-related issues, especially Covid-19 complications.

“Service over self is what I believe in. I am available 24 hours online and on WhatsApp for the residents in the Vasant Vihar area," she said.

Residents were being directed on initial symptomatic care, says Dr. Shikha Sharma, director, ENT & Dental Centre, Vasant Vihar, on India Today TV.

"At this crucial stage of the pandemic, we all need to step up as doctors, individuals, residents, and citizens of India as a lot can be achieved through teamwork. We are helping residents 24x7 by guiding them on initial symptomatic treatment, connecting them to the specialists, helping them get their blood tests, Covid-19 tests, and CT scans done, and making volunteer groups share oxygen concentrators and cylinders. We also help critical patients get admitted in hospitals," Sharma said.

"Giving your time to anyone in need, is the need of the hour," said another doctor, Dr. Glossy Sabharwal, director of WISH Clinic.

"Coming from a family of doctors, I am inspired to give it back to the community. Taking patients' calls, prescribing medicines, connecting them to fellow doctors, providing 24/7 diagnostic CT scans, organising oxygen and beds in various hospitals -- we all are working round the clock," Sabharwal, visibly assertive, said.