Combating coronavirus: Volunteer doctors support Dubai's isolation facility for Indian workers

Dubai - The doctors have been assigned to treat patients with mild symptoms, and critical cases will be taken to more advanced medical facilities.

A group of 22 healthcare volunteers - 10 doctors and 12 nurses - are helping treat patients with mild Covid-19 symptoms in a 500-bed, all-male isolation facility in Dubai's Warsan community, Khaleej Times has learnt. "This is a joint effort between the Dubai Health Authority, Indian community members, and Aster DM Healthcare," said Vipul, the Consul General of India to Dubai. "The Indian Business and Professional Council has been supportive as well," he added.
"The building [in Warsan] can take up to 500 patients and we are happy that several Indian doctors have come forward to volunteer their services," he added. Healthcare workers volunteered their services at the request of the Indian Consulate in Dubai and it supplements the UAE's and Dubai's efforts in battling the pandemic, said Vipul.
A senior Indian doctor couple, Dr JS Rajkumar, a general consultant and laparoscopic surgeon with a few hospitals in Dubai, and Dr Chithrakala, an internal medicine physician, were among the first to volunteer for the initiative.
Covered in two layers of personal protection equipment (PPE), the doctors have been assigned to treat patients with mild symptoms, and critical cases will be taken to more advanced medical facilities, said Indian Consulate officials.
Founder of the Lifeline Group in Chennai, Dr Rajkumar lauded the structure followed by the UAE authorities to set-up field hospitals. "This is an extremely good plan, and it is only possible because it is such a disciplined country," he said.
Most of the doctors are general practitioners even as a few super specialists are also working in the facility, explained Consulate officials. The doctors add that the patients, all Indian workers, are receiving excellent care, including food and medication, and that the healthcare volunteers are following a diligent identification and treatment plan.
"The patients have all been isolated with care and that's the only way the pandemic will burn out. The kind of steps being taken are incredible," said Dr Rajkumar. "The windows have been sealed, containing the patients, and creating negative pressure ventilation, which is important to curb its spread," he explained.
Dr Chithrakala said the patients have access to free WiFi and mental health support as well. "We return home immediately from the isolation facility and self-isolate ourselves. However, the [other] doctors and nurses are being provided with accommodation within the facility as well," she said.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com 

• Dubai