Dad battling cancer, doctor pandemic

Amarjot Kaur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 2

A cancer-afflicted father and an eight-month-old baby at home do not stop Dr Utkarsh Singh Anand (37) from performing his duty. A resident of Sector 15, he daily travels to Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital in Banur, which has the biggest isolation facility in Punjab, to oversee the distribution of protective gear among the staff.

A medical officer at ESI Hospital, Mohali, Dr Utkarsh has been clocking an eight-hour shift every day since April 25.

“This facility houses Covid-19 patients from three districts of Punjab — Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib and Ropar. Right now, 70 positive cases are being treated here. As many as 33 have been discharged,” he says.

Dr Utkarsh attends to the paramedical staff at the logistics department. “I was on night duty for a couple of days when I had to interact with Covid patients. Now, I am managing the supply of masks, PPE kits, hazmat suits and oxygen cylinders to the staff at the Covid-19 ICU and other wards,” he says.

Since he comes in contact with the health staff dealing with Covid, a constant worry has been his 69-year-old father, whose cancer is in the last stage. “My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012 and has been on chemotherapy since 2018. His next chemo is due on May 16,” he adds. “Though I have been relieved for the day, I am worried as there has to be a quarantine period. I don’t want to put my father at risk. But then, this profession has a higher calling.”

His son was born premature, weighing 1,100 gm. “He was in the ICU for 45 days. I cannot meet both my father and son, as they are in the high-risk groups. So, I stay in a separate room at the backyard,” he shares.

Dr Utkarsh, who follows a strict hygiene routine, only sees his family from a distance through a window, adhering to social distancing. However, he does get to see them closely through video calls. His final message to residents: “Stay at home and maintain social distancing.”