Covid warrior Som Raj works day & night in Housekeeping section of GMC Rajouri

Rajouri: Notwithstanding his nearly retiring age and family expectations, Som Raj, Incharge housekeeping in Government Medical College, is working day and night to ensure that tasks on his shoulders for treatment of COVID patients are met well before time.

Som Raj is not only looking after the housekeeping related responsibilities in Government Medical College and Associated Hospital Rajouri but is also assisting authorities in the management of COVID patients admitted in the isolation ward.

“We have our own set of tasks drawn under the category of housekeeping, but this is the time when everyone needs to work beyond routine jobs,” said Som Raj.

He said that the housekeeping staff and private security personnel in the medical college are also assisting authorities in the transportation of oxygen cylinders, shifting of patients and ambulance services, by duly following the safety protocols and Covid SoPs .

“I ferry dozens of oxygen cylinders from the isolation ward to the cylinder bank on a daily basis,” said Som Raj and added that he also shifts patients at a time when their attendants maintain a distance.

In some circumstances, I even accompany the ambulance driver, wearing safety gear, for shifting the COVID patient from home to hospital or carrying the body of a patient, who dies in an isolation ward.

“Services rendered during this pandemic when people are maintaining distance from their family members is the biggest service to mankind and I am working on this principle only” Som Raj added.