Fighting virus not new to this doctor

IT was in in 2009, when 12 students returned from the NASA, that the swine flu cases were first reported in Jalandhar. Dr TP Singh was the officer responsible for tackling the crisis. Having conducted the tracing of 600 contacts of eight students infected with the H1N1 virus then, working amidst such scenarios is not new to him. However, Covid — is still by far a daunting challenge for him. Tested positive on August 10 — today is the last day of his home isolation period. A former epidemiologist, currently the district’s nodal officer for Covid-19, Dr TP Singh is among the senior most health officials of the district who contracted the Covid.

Speaking to The Tribune, Dr TP Singh said, “In 2009, 12 students returned from NASA, of whom eight had the H1N1 infection. We were scared at that time too but things were different then. Many of our frontline workers were also symptomatic. But swine flu had a cure and though we weren’t tested, we had medication. But now the scenario is totally different. There is no cure yet. There weren’t many cases then. At that time there, also wasn’t such chaos or mad rush. Now there is an army of media houses and portals.”

He worked as an Epidemiologist from 2007 to 2011 in Jalandhar. Working for the Health Department for the past 33 years, he termed the current situation as an unprecedented crisis. A busy man at office, he is also a devoted husband who tends to his paraplegic wife.

Life changed dramatically in 2007 when he and his wife both suffered a car accident. While he had a fracture in his spinal cord his wife suffered a major spinal injury which left her paralysed.

During his 17-day isolation period, he spent time with his sons and wife, he also got emotional support of his friends.

“Though I have seen people facing stigma, I have been very lucky. I was flooded with calls from my well wishers in India and abroad. Many of them offered help. Friends and relatives provided groceries and also served breakfast to us. Friends, mediapersons and police officials called and asked if I needed something. I alerted my contacts immediately after testing positive. I have strictly asked my sons not to step out.”

(As told to Aparna Banerji)