Page 35 - Plasticos-magazine-7

The working protocols, quarantine and other logistics were planned meticulously by the core committee
and task force. The last pandemic that the world saw was in 1918. The challenges this time were entirely
different and the first for all of us.

Each day has been a challenge, with a new set of problems popping up which had to be dealt with swiftly and

effectively. It took a lot of determination to sit through endless meetings and video conferences, to burn
the midnight oil, answering countless calls. I have answered close to 300 to 400 calls per day for the first
three months. I was in charge of quarantine facilities, logistics, donations, admissions, discharges, getting

the dead shifted to the burial ground according to the new norms, listening to pleas, queries, orders, and
much more and to get back to work the next day morning, with a smile on my face and grit in my heart,
ready to face more. The work load was too much to handle alone and we streamlined the operations,
making different committees to handle the responsibilities. Handling the press who were always eager to
get the facts was another challenge. My job was to ensure smooth running of the entire system of managing

the COVID crisis and meeting up to expectations of both the general public and the Government.

MANY FIRSTS

We have had many firsts at our institution. Victoria hospital was designated for exclusive treatment of

Covid-19 positive patients on March 26. It is with great satisfaction I can say we are the first COVID
dedicated hospital in Bangalore, first and only hospital to treat COVID positive pregnant women for almost
5 months, treated patients requiring dialysis et al. We were also the first to start Convalescent Plasma

Therapy and set up a Plasma Bank. We were also first to start a COVID 19 Rehabilitation Clinic. I take
immense pride being a principal player in the setup.

35 VOL 7, 2021