First Pregnant Doctor To Treat Covid Patients

Dr Trupti Gilada, 35, Mumbai 
Physician, Infectious Disease and Adult Medicine, Masina Hospital

I was four months pregnant, when the pandemic broke out in Mumbai. As medical professionals, we were in the thick of things. The cases were rising steadily, and by March, India had already surpassed 500. Masina Hospital was among the first few to start a COVID-19 care centre for patients. At the time, Dr Vispi Jokhi, CEO of the hospital, gave me a call, saying, “I understand you are pregnant, but we really need you in our caregiving team [right now].” He asked me to take some time, and think over it. The thought running through my head was that this job was just as important as my child. So I said, “yes”. As doctors, we do tend to set emotions aside, when responding to the call of duty.