Dr Edwin Gomes

With an intention to send across a message that there should no discrimination against COVID-19 patients in the society, a doctor from a hospital in Goa has been giving his COVID-19 recovered patients an affectionate send-off by hugging them.

The doctor, Dr Edwin Gomes, who’s head of from medicine department of Goa medical colleges, spearheaded a team of doctors at the Margao-based ESI hospital, for treating COVID-19 patients. In the last three months, Dr Gomes has hugged almost 190 patients at the time of their discharge from the hospital.

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Dr Gomes, who recently went back to his home after 98 days of COVID-19 duty at the hospital, told PTI that he hugs all the patients when they are discharged after testing negative. Dr Gomes further said that it is his way of sending a message that these patients should not be ostracized. Dr Gomes said that these recovered patients are COVID-19 Angels as their blood plasma can be used to treat critical coronavirus patients as recovered patients have antibodies.

Sharing a sweet memory about one his patients from Mangor Hill (a COVID019 hotspot in Goa) who recovered from the infection, Dr Gomes said, After recovering, this patient helped other patients by feeding them and putting the bed pan. He was like a nurse. If some patient had a query, he would answer.