They did not know each other until a few days ago, and met for the first time when they came to Kolkata to attend a seminar recently.
KOLKATA: They did not know each other until a few days ago, and met for the first time when they came to Kolkata to attend a seminar recently.
But the outbreak of avian flu in certain districts of West Bengal brought them closer, and all five of them are now scanning through affected districts, helping and advising people on how to avoid contamination and take medical precautions in case of contamination.
All young apprentice NRI doctors, they are pursuing higher studies in the different fields of medicine in UK, and have roots in Kolkata. They came to the city recently with the dual intention of a holiday and also to attend a local seminar.
However, during their stay, the avian flu broke out. Newspaper reports on the administration’s negligence in controlling the contamination prompted them to extend their holiday and assist in controlling the contamination.
Dr Tanish Mukherjee, the senior-most among them and currently a student of the Member of Royal College of Gynaecology in UK, was the first to take the initiative, and was soon able to convince four others to join him in the mission.
“To be frank, none of us are experts in veterinary science or have first-hand knowledge of handling the avian flu contamination. I am an apprentice gynaecologist and our team has one surgeon, one cardiologist and an orthopaedist. But we are also doctors since all of us have successfully completed MBBS, and one is an MD.
So we thought we can do the minimum possible on our part, at least to alert people whose lives are under threat,” Mukherjee told DNA.
Dr Debyojoti Dey, a student of Member of Royal College of Surgery, said that they have identified places where the outbreak is most severe.
“Now we will individually go to the affected blocks and do counselling work. If the local administration helps us, it would be better. If they don’t, we will do our part. We have consulted our senior doctors in UK and have figured out the antidotes available in India, and each of us is carrying a stock of antidotes for the emergency,” Dey said. When asked whether they have approached the local administration for help, Mukherjee said that there is no point in approaching them in advance.
“When we will work in the field, the local health officers will come to know and if they feel that we are doing good work they will voluntarily assist us. All we want is some cooperation, so that there is no difficulty in doing our work,” he said.
r_sumanta@dnaindia.net
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}