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Volunteers run out of steam
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
The enthusiasm for relief work was at its peak when volunteers fought to help earthquake victims brought to S.S.G. Hospital. Now, other than the regular doctors and hospital staff nobody else bothers them.
When the victims were brought in for treatment to the hospital, the campus was overflowing with volunteers, all eager to help. For about 63 patients who were admitted in the hospital, there were about 150 volunteers at any given point during the initial days. There were volunteers who claimed to provide room service to the victims attending to all the requirement from blood to water pouches. There were quarrels among groups of volunteers for want of space to pitch their tents, however, 15 days later, the only tent that stands firm is that of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh volunteers.
Now the corridors of the hospital lie deserted as all the volunteers after about a fortnight have gone back home and taken back to their routine lives while the patients, mostly orthopedic cases are still undergoing treatment in the hospital.
Says one of the victims, Urmilaben Thakker, "Earlier there were always people who wanted help us out, but now there is no one there. Though now we have settled down and the hospital staff are taking good care, the volunteers have vanished from the scene.''
However, there are others who feel that the volunteers have done their bit and they could not be there forever. Says another patient recuperating in the B-3 ward, "Now we don't need anything which the volunteers can provide for and we are being taken care of by the hospital staff.''
But with the exit of the volunteers there are many in the hospital who are heaving a sigh of relief. Says one of the nurses, "Some of these enthusiastic volunteers even woke up patients while they were asleep to give them juice without realising that they will be troubling the patients more than helping them. Now with the enthusiastic lot gone, the patients are a lot better.''
Besides disturbing the patients, there were some volunteers who were also instructing the residents about the treatment of the patients adding to the confusion and chaos in the hour of crisis. However, with the dust raised by the tremor settling down, the zealous lot of the volunteers too have settled for their routine.
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