Kottayam: When Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared victory in the state's fight against coronavirus on Friday, he may have been talking about a lot of things – on how confirmed cases had dipped to nine from very distressing numbers the previous days, the recovery of Thomas (93) and Mariamma (86), the country's oldest COVID-19 patients, and many more. But nothing illustrates the state's effort more than the tale of Reshma Mohandas, whose personal battle against the virus was a triumph against giant odds.
Reshma, a staff nurse at Kottayam Medical College Hospital, contracted the disease while caring for Thomas and Mariamma. After she served 10 days in the coronavirus ward, Reshma had to undergo a medical examination as she had fever. She tested coronavirus positive on March 24.
It was one of the most alarming moments since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Kerala. It posed the important question on whether health workers, our first line of defence, could be protected from contracting the disease.
However, the spirited woman, fought the illness with courage, becoming an exemplary figure not just for the hospital, but for the healthcare personnel across Kerala.
In just nine days, Reshma overcame the disease. Reshma left the hospital on Friday. She was also heartened to learn that the elders, whom she had cared for, have made successful recoveries too.
“Our hospitals have all the facilities to treat COVID-19. The medical staff are all working very hard. We can rest without worry. Kerala will survive coronavirus,” Reshma said.
Reshma also said she had received enormous support from her colleagues and even health minister K K Shailaja. The minister called her up to congratulate on her release from the hospital.
With the discharge of Reshma, all COVID-19 patients admitted to Kottayam Medical College have been cured. The elderly patients she attended to were discharged earlier.
While Reshma is raring to join back duty, she has to be at home for 14 days under observation. The Thiruvankulam native has now gone home to her husband Unnikrishnan and his mother.
