Vaccination, Mindfulness Key to Winning War Against Covid: Military Doctors

NEW DELHI: As India reels under a devastating second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic which has taken lives and has citizens running from pillar to post in search of hospital beds and oxygen, personnel of the three armed forces have been pressed into service to help civilian administration.

Lt Gen Madhuri Kanitkar, Deputy Chief of the IDS (Medical) and Surgeon Rear Admiral C S Naidu, Additional DG (Medical) of the Indian Navy spoke to StratNews Global, declaring that the Indian military is treating the Coronavirus wave like a war. Detailing how additional manpower is being brought in and trained as BFNAs (Battle Field Nursing Assistants), sorties and ships ferrying oxygen from across the globe, the military doctors also spoke about the steps being taken to address the mental health needs of the healthcare workers on the ground through ‘Operation CO-JEET’.

The doctors also warned against letting the guard down, saying that vaccination and mindfulness are key to combating the spread of the virus, even as capacity building is on in full swing and India is now prepared for any eventuality.