I lost my husband, take care of your dear ones: ASHA worker

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 29

Amid widespread scepticism in rural areas, a 50-year-old ASHA worker, Karamjeet Kaur, who lost her husband to Covid, is now appealing to residents of her village, Dhablan, to pay heed to Covid symptoms.

Karamjeet Kaur reportedly lost her husband due to indifferent attitude towards Covid and its symptoms.

Karamjeet, during a house-to-house surveillance, as a part of the macro-containment policy, is asking residents to immediately undergo Covid test if they exhibit any symptom.

“Main ta apna kho leya iss bimari naal, tusi na koi apna kho deyo, test krva lo (I have lost my dear one due to Covid, I wish you don’t lose your dear ones. Please come forward for testing),” said Karamjeet Kaur, who joined her duty three days after her husband died.

Her husband, Amarjit Singh (50), died of Covid on May 11 after battling the virus for around eight days at the isolation ward of Government Rajindra Hospital.

Talking to The Tribune at a health centre in Dhablan village, Karamjeet Kaur said she had taken a vow to go an extra mile to convince residents to seek medical help as soon as symptoms arise. She said: “I think if he (her husband) had taken his symptoms seriously, we would have had better chance at saving him. I don’t want others to lose their loved ones due to ignorance.”

Karamjeet Kaur, who earns only Rs2,000 a month for Covid related work is now struggling to make ends meet. Karamjeet Kaur said: “My family blames me for bringing virus to home, which makes me disheartened. I argue that there is community spread, therefore, everyone should take precautions.”

The ASHA worker appealed to the Chief Minister to provide financial assistance to the needy healthcare workers who lost their family members to Covid.

Appeal to villagers

Karamjeet, during a house-to-house surveillance, as a part of the macro-containment policy, is asking Dhablan residents to immediately undergo Covid test if they exhibit any Covid symptom.