A Coronavirus Lockdown Hero - Health Officer Continues Performing Duties Despite News Of Mother's Death

While many of us are working from home due to coronavirus lockdown, there are those who do not have that option because their jobs require them to be out there in the field. Policemen, healthcare professionals, airport staff, sanitation workers, people working in media and banks, transport and delivery workers form that group who have to continue to do their jobs or else the whole system would collapse.

Ashraf Ali, who is in charge of sanitation for Bhopal Municipal Corporation, is one example of when duty comes before self. The man got the news of his mother's death, but while he did want to be at her side then and there, he knew he had a job to do. His job is to ensure that homes, streets, and markets in the area are sanitized as it's necessary to do so to combat the outbreak.

Knowing that the his work was important at that time, he put duty ahead of his grief and showed his selflessness. Putting his emotions aside, he chose to put the people of Bhopal first and did what was needed.

¡°Nothing¡¯s more valuable than one¡¯s mother. After your mother comes your motherland, which is in danger. I came to know about my mother¡¯s death at 8 am, but also had my duty to my country,¡± he said while speaking to NDTV.

¡°I went in the afternoon for the burial but returned to work later,¡± he added.

¡°They are the true heroes in these tough times. Ashraf Ali is an inspiration for our staff ¨C he sanitizes between 5,000 and 7,000 houses in the city,¡± said Vijay Dutta, the city¡¯s Municipal Commissioner.

We need heroes like Ashraf in this hour of crisis. People like him are the ones who stand up when the going gets tough. In India, the disease is spreading fast with the number of confirmed cases exceeding 1000. The country is in lockdown from March 25 to April 14.

Worldwide it has already claimed more than 30,000 lives and over 650,000 people are affected.