This story is from May 29, 2020

Son, daughter in isolation, but this Covid warrior remains on duty in Akola

Son, daughter in isolation, but this Covid warrior remains on duty in Akola
Nagpur: May 23 was like any other day for Ankush Gangakhedkar, who is working 24x7 for 50 days as assistant to civil surgeon (CS) of Akola, the worst-hit district by Covid-19 in Vidarbha. He was taking printouts of the Covid-19 test reports for CS office when a familiar name caught his eye. It was of Aditya Gangakhedkar, his 10-year-old son, and it was positive.

“Aditya was having fever on May 20. Maybe because of I’m closely associated with Covid-19, I became suspicious. I took him to his paediatrician, who recommended a Covid test,” said Gangakhedkar. As Aditya was showing symptoms, two of his close friends with whom he plays all the time were also tested. Both also tested positive the same day.
In Akola, the number of Covid-19 patients has already crossed 500 including 28 deaths. Thousands of samples of close contacts of the 118-odd active cases are pending for tests. The only lab in GMCH Akola has limited capacity. So, strategically, they test close contacts showing symptoms on priority.
“I was in shock. I could not reach home immediately as I had to submit all reports to the office. By the time I reached home in the evening, all three kids were playing together. None of them was having fever,” Gangakhedkar recalled. It was tough for him to convey the news to the kids.
“I told them all of them are positive and asked them to be ready for isolation in GMCH. The 108 ambulance was on its way. Like any other child their age, they started crying as soon as I told them to pack their bags,” he said.
At this moment, a 14-year-old daughter of Gangakhedkar, who has been watching her father on Covid duty for last two months, stepped up. “My daughter Renuka said she will accompany her brother and his two friends at Isolation Ward. She started packing for both of them. It was a great morale booster for me and my wife. My daughter insisted that her mother stay at home to take care of me,” Gangakhedkar said.

May 24 was celebrated as Brother’s Day all over the world. It was also 15th birthday of Renuka. On that day, both Renuka and her brother Aditya were in Isolation Ward and their father was on Covid duty. Gangakhedkar wrote an emotional Facebook post on his daughter’s birthday.
“You both never ever lived separated from us even for a day since your birth. Today, you two are there in the Isolation Ward and we are waiting for you. We are sure, you will win over this situation and join us soon,” he wrote.
Akola’s resident deputy collector Sanjay Khadse said every official on Covid duty was working tirelessly in Akola. “Health officials, administration, police are all giving their level best. From Friday onwards, we will be conducting health check-up of every citizen of Akola which is mammoth task. Such incidents inspire the fighting spirit of Covid warriors amid a challenging situation,” he said.
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About the Author
Chaitanya Deshpande

Chaitanya Deshpande is Principal Correspondent at The Times of India, Nagpur. He has a PG degree in English literature and Mass communication. Chaitanya covers public health, medical issues, medical education, research in the fields of medicine, microbiology, biotechnology. He also covers culture, fine arts, theatre, folk arts, literature, and life. Proficient in Marathi and Hindi along with English, Chaitanya loves music, theatre and literature of all three languages.

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