Indian-Origin Doctors In US Have Sacrificed Their Lives Fighting COVID-19 Pandemic

While the whole world is dealing with the wrath of COVID-19, the whole ordeal has been more terrible for doctors and medical practitioners in the front line who are risking their lives while trying to treat people with the novel coronavirus.

Reuters

And a recent report by PTI has revealed how several Indian origin doctors in the US have sacrificed their lives to the novel coronavirus. This has been brought to light by the Indian-American community leaders who state that a considerable number of Indian-origin doctors have gotten infected during this pandemic.?

One of them was 61-year old Dr Madhvi Aya, who contracted COVID-19 in New York. The report describes her final days spent communicating with her family via text messages before succumbing to the deadly coronavirus.

Pic Credits: Minnoli Aya/ Anisha Khanna Sharma

Early this week, Indian American nephrologist Priya Khanna, 43, passed away in a New Jersey hospital. Her father Satyendra Khanna (78), a general surgeon, is still fighting his battle against COVID-19 and is said to be in a critical condition in the intensive care unit in the same hospital.

?Another doctor was treating a COVID-19 patient in New Jersey earlier this month, when the patient threw up, which hit his face. The doctor fell sick and eventually didn’t survive the coronavirus.??

Ravi Kolli, secretary of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI)? said in a conversation with PTI, “There are at least 10 (Indian American doctors) who are critically ill. One of the largest doctors' organisations of its kind, the AAPI represents more than 80,000 Indian-American doctors, who constitute the largest ethnic group of physicians in the US.”

He further added, “AAPI members, as a group, are over-represented in all the hotspot areas, as well as caring for underserved populations.”

PTI

According to the US’s Centre For Disease Control and Prevention, Asian Americans aren't as adversely impacted by COVID-19 compared to other ethnic groups. CDC data has recently revealed that they account for around 4.4 percent of the total infected cases.?

Kolli concluded stating, “They are bravely leading the enormous challenge of fighting COVID 19 pandemic at their own personal risk without a second thought, which speaks volumes for their compassion, commitment and sense of duty.”