LUCKNOW: The news of Dr Sharda Suman’s demise set off a wave of sorrow at Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) with her teachers and peers describing it as “supreme sacrifice by a corona warrior” and an immense loss.
Dr Suman (31) had contracted Covid-19 in April while discharging emergency duty in the obstetrics and gynaecology department, where she was pursuing her postgraduation.
When the infection damaged her lungs, she was airlifted to KIMS Hospital, Hyderabad, on July 11 where she breathed her last on Sunday night. The transplant could not take place due to a complication in trachea and food pipe. Faculty members, batchmates and institute staff paid tributes to Dr Suman for her dedication to work and prayed for the wellbeing of her husband Dr Ajay Kumar and her five-month old daughter, whom she gave birth while on ventilator. They remembered her as a soft-spoken, hardworking and kind-hearted doctor.
“The fact that she continued to perform her duty and serve patients despite being eight months pregnant when the second Covid-19 wave was its peak, speaks volumes about her dedication,” said head, anaesthesia department, Prof PK Das.
“In view of her pregnancy, she was given an option to perform in less risky areas, but on seeing people’s plight due to the ravaging second wave, she chose to serve the emergency patients,” he added.
Assistant professor at gynaecology department, Dr Charu Singh, said, “She used to pick up BP measuring machine and stethoscope soon after entering the ward and would return with many papers mentioning patients’ condition. She was on duty till the day she was diagnosed with Covid-19 on April 14.”
“Every time I remember Dr Suman, the scene of the picnic at Imambara flashes before my eyes. Since she was pregnant, we carried along all her favourite food items,” said Dr Huma Khan, a friend and batchmate of Dr Suman.
Hospital superintendent Prof Srikesh Singh said, “We feel proud that we had such a dedicated and talented student as a resident doctor . We are devastated after losing her despite our best efforts to save her life.”
