At 26, one is in the prime of life. What were you doing then? Saving lives? Possibly not. Dying because you risked your life to save others? Not if you are reading this article. Well for Usama Riaz, life was cut short when he died at the age of 26.??
So who was he you may ask? A celebrity, no, but a hero for sure. The man was a doctor and why did he die? Because he was treating patients affected by coronavirus. He is the first doctor in Pakistan to die due to the disease which has claimed the lives of over 15,000 people.?
He got the virus while treating people in the Gilgit region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. His patients had recently returned from Iran and Iraq. He was part of a 10-member team which was screening people who returned from Iran via Taftan. Pakistan shares a border with both Iran and China.?
Riaz belonged to Chilas in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). He came home on Friday night but could not get the next day. He was first rushed to a military hospital and then to district hospital. He was put on ventilator and died on Sunday, according to his family.?
¡°It is with extreme sadness that the Gilgit-Baltistan health department confirms that Usama Riaz who played a key role in the war against coronavirus has passed away,¡± the GB government tweeted on Monday.?
¡°Usama proved himself the real hero by sacrificing his life to save others," GB Information Minister Shams Mir said.?
Pakistan Medical Association of Gilgit-Baltistan blames the government for Riaz's death.?
"Riaz had contracted COVID-19 due to the negligence of government and its health department,¡± President PMA G-B Zulfiqar Ali said.?
This also opens up a whole new can of worms. The main issue is why are doctors not getting their Personal Protection Equipment? What is the point of them doing their duties if they are not safe themselves? This rant by an Indian doctor using Riaz's death as a perfect example pretty much sums it up:?
Riaz himself knew the risks he was taking, but he did not shun from doing his duty. The first doctor who died from coronavirus in France had actually come out of retirement to save lives. Just shows their selflessness. If they can be this selfless, can't the people in authority at least ensure they have the proper protective gear? How will they protect the patients if they cannot save themselves? Losing a doctor means you lose a potential number of patients.?
Not just in the subcontinent, the problem is all over the world. Take a look at what is going on in USA:?
The bottom line is this. Get those who save us the tools to keep themselves safe. Only then can they do their duty flawlessly. Having said that, they are still doing it, but at a great risk. Make their job easier, and the result shall be good for everyone.