Stories of hope | Nights for needy - A doc of a different kind

Hyderabad: Every night, after the evening prayers, Dr Khizer Hussain Junaidy reaches his clinic in Mallepally. A pharmacology resident doctor at Gandhi Medical College, Dr Khizer spends almost the entire night seeing patients, counselling them about Covid-19, and tries to educate people not to be afraid of the disease but take every step to protect themselves from it, and provides the course of treatments for those whose families turn up at his clinic for help and guidance.

During the current month of Ramzan, Dr Khizer works at the clinic till Sehri, the pre-dawn meal, attending to an average of 150 people who visit his clinic.

Once the word spread that there was a doctor willing to see Covid-19 suspects, or even patients, people began lining up, he said. Most of those who visit the night clinic are from the poorer sections of the society, not capable of approaching hospitals for treatment. “Most of my job here is educating families about taking precautions and spreading awareness among people about the disease,” he said.

Dr Khizer said the situation was fast deteriorating and there was increasing panic in the community over what Covid-19 was doing to people, and what it could further do. “Though there is fear, especially about mortality due to the disease, we can control it by adopting healthy habits and adopting precautions, instead of giving in to fear,” he said. He charges a nominal fee for those who can pay and treats free who are unable to pay. He also provides free medicines for the needy.

He appealed to fellow doctors not to create anxiety by prescribing medicines that are hard to get. He also advised people that when needed, they must get hospitalised. Do not wait for the perfect hospital for your treatment. Get admitted to any hospital, at least, a Covid-19 patient is better monitored even at a small hospital than what his or family can do at home,” he said.