Women Covid warriors have been instrumental in Karnataka’s war against coronavirus. These range from women holding key positions in the administration to countless ordinary citizens. Meet some women warriors who have been taking every challenge head-on for each one of us in the third wave.
Speaking to TOI, 23-yearold Chandana, a swab collector attached to Kodihalli Primary Health Centre, says she has been living alone, away from her mother, who lives in the same city, due to fear of infecting her.
“I collect swabs of strangers, and with the Omicron variant spreading lightning fast, I do not want to risk infecting my parents,” she says. Her father works in Mysuru.
Chandana also works for the mobile units run by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). “We start work in the morning and it goes on till 3pm. We get a lunch break in between and that’s when we use the toilets,” she says.
“It is a kind of social work that we do. We can’t complain,” she quips when asked if it’s difficult working in the mobile units.
Dr Sisira Raj, an epidemiologist working at BBMP War Room, says although cases are rising and workload is increasing, she doesn’t feel as stressed as she used to be in the second wave. “Omicron variant has less hospitalisation rate. Even in hospitalisation cases, at least 80% of patients are going to general beds and very few cases require intensive care,” she says.
Speaking about an average workday, Sisira says she leaves home before 10am and returns by 9. 30pm. “But that doesn’t mean the work quite ends there,” she says. “After dinner, I sit with the laptop again till late night, and sometimes I wake up as early as 2am and get back to work,” she adds. Sisira lives with her husband and their 5-year-old child.
“My husband helps with the kid and other daily chores like cooking,” she says.
Her work involves monitoring the Covid-19 data, including testing, positive cases, clusters, hospitalisations among others. She coordinates with Primary Health Centres, state-run hospitals, and private facilities in her zone to compile data related to Covid cases. She also pays field visits to monitor spread within clusters of cases in Yelahanka zone.
Dr Prajna Hunse’s day begins at 5. 30am. She has to finish her daily chores before sitting with her younger son for the latter’s online classes.
Prajna, who is attached to Kumaraswamy Layout Primary Health Centre, says the workload has increased in the last couple of weeks. “Around 80% of the work currently is Covid-related,” she says.
“Compared to the second wave, we are seeing a rapid increase in the number of cases. The doubling time is less than 24 hours, but the severity is less. Vaccination also plays an important role, as most of these people getting infected have received both jabs. Only those with comorbidities or diabetesassociated complications, malignancy, are being hospitalised,” she said.
“Everyone I know is getting infected in this wave, unlike the first two, including my co-workers, despite all precautions. And these are people who spend most of the time in their workspace,” she says.
“But no matter what, the work must go on. We have learned to live with the virus,” she says. Prajna lives with her husband and two children.
Dr Bhagyalakshmi, health officer, Yelahanka zone, says the work never ends. “We can’t ever turn our phones off. There is always an emergency that has to be attended to immediately,” she says.
“This time around, although cases are increasing rapidly, I personally don’t feel extremely stressed thanks to fewer critical cases,” she says. Although she is busy, she tries to make time to help her children, who are in Class 9 and 12, with their studies. “My mother too helps out as she lives nearby,” she says.
“Last time, during the second wave, I would constantly be on my phone arranging beds and oxygen. That’s not happening now and it’s a big relief,” she says.
Bhagyalakshmi and her husband had contracted Covid and were hospitalised during the second wave.
Not to forget, in an exemplary display of grit and determination, there are thousands of faceless women Covid warriors engaged in sanitisation and medical waste disposal among other services, who face a lot of challenges from handling the stress of domestic chores to ensuring their family is not infected during the pandemic.
Speaking to TOI, 23-yearold Chandana, a swab collector attached to Kodihalli Primary Health Centre, says she has been living alone, away from her mother, who lives in the same city, due to fear of infecting her.
“I collect swabs of strangers, and with the Omicron variant spreading lightning fast, I do not want to risk infecting my parents,” she says. Her father works in Mysuru.
Chandana also works for the mobile units run by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). “We start work in the morning and it goes on till 3pm. We get a lunch break in between and that’s when we use the toilets,” she says.
“It is a kind of social work that we do. We can’t complain,” she quips when asked if it’s difficult working in the mobile units.
Dr Sisira Raj, an epidemiologist working at BBMP War Room, says although cases are rising and workload is increasing, she doesn’t feel as stressed as she used to be in the second wave. “Omicron variant has less hospitalisation rate. Even in hospitalisation cases, at least 80% of patients are going to general beds and very few cases require intensive care,” she says.
Speaking about an average workday, Sisira says she leaves home before 10am and returns by 9. 30pm. “But that doesn’t mean the work quite ends there,” she says. “After dinner, I sit with the laptop again till late night, and sometimes I wake up as early as 2am and get back to work,” she adds. Sisira lives with her husband and their 5-year-old child.
“My husband helps with the kid and other daily chores like cooking,” she says.
Her work involves monitoring the Covid-19 data, including testing, positive cases, clusters, hospitalisations among others. She coordinates with Primary Health Centres, state-run hospitals, and private facilities in her zone to compile data related to Covid cases. She also pays field visits to monitor spread within clusters of cases in Yelahanka zone.
Dr Prajna Hunse’s day begins at 5. 30am. She has to finish her daily chores before sitting with her younger son for the latter’s online classes.
Prajna, who is attached to Kumaraswamy Layout Primary Health Centre, says the workload has increased in the last couple of weeks. “Around 80% of the work currently is Covid-related,” she says.
“Compared to the second wave, we are seeing a rapid increase in the number of cases. The doubling time is less than 24 hours, but the severity is less. Vaccination also plays an important role, as most of these people getting infected have received both jabs. Only those with comorbidities or diabetesassociated complications, malignancy, are being hospitalised,” she said.
“Everyone I know is getting infected in this wave, unlike the first two, including my co-workers, despite all precautions. And these are people who spend most of the time in their workspace,” she says.
“But no matter what, the work must go on. We have learned to live with the virus,” she says. Prajna lives with her husband and two children.
Dr Bhagyalakshmi, health officer, Yelahanka zone, says the work never ends. “We can’t ever turn our phones off. There is always an emergency that has to be attended to immediately,” she says.
“This time around, although cases are increasing rapidly, I personally don’t feel extremely stressed thanks to fewer critical cases,” she says. Although she is busy, she tries to make time to help her children, who are in Class 9 and 12, with their studies. “My mother too helps out as she lives nearby,” she says.
“Last time, during the second wave, I would constantly be on my phone arranging beds and oxygen. That’s not happening now and it’s a big relief,” she says.
Bhagyalakshmi and her husband had contracted Covid and were hospitalised during the second wave.
Not to forget, in an exemplary display of grit and determination, there are thousands of faceless women Covid warriors engaged in sanitisation and medical waste disposal among other services, who face a lot of challenges from handling the stress of domestic chores to ensuring their family is not infected during the pandemic.
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