[Blog] Dr Daureeawoo : « I have witnessed the death of several patients on a daily basis, and I even lost count »

Dear Mauritians,

The world is under a tremendous menace, an invisible threat where sadly our beloved island has not been spared. Allow me to take some of your time, as a front liner, to reveal my sentiment during this challenging period.

The WHO had declared the covid-19, as a pandemic, and it was a matter of time, that our country would have been hit. A sense of panic, anger, frustration was installed when the first cases were declared in our country. At that time, few leaders stepped up, and drastic measures were taken in aim to limit the potential propagation of this deadly virus. Hat’s off to the essential workers, including, our political representatives, healthcare workers, police force, transport workers, and many more, to have been able to put aside their fear, and walk out there with dignity, confidence, and strength in the service of the nation. No words would be enough, to express my sincere gratitude, respects, and salutations for keeping my loved one safe, THANK YOU.

While we witnessed those who merit applause, we also had the chance to see the comatose ones. Youngster, elderly, locals, and also those living abroad, came together, with whichever means they could, to encourage the citizens, to abide to the strict measures implemented. We spotted, the heroic politicians and citizens, marching to help the most vulnerable ones, organizing/delivering pensions, food, medications, vaccination and providing support as much as they could offer. In spite, of the gravity of the situation, it’s mesmerizing to appreciate, the courage, kindness and goodwill of all those who geared up, both the authorities and the common man.

However, as much as I could lavish praises for many, on the other side some had faded. Using my liberty of expression, while the heroes have been combatting the virus, other so called leaders have been timid. We are blessed to be in a republic island, where we look out to those officials. But, to my disappointment, the occupier of the Réduit, had voice out minimally on national TV or radio, and his vice, even voiceless, making me wonder, is covid- 19 the only one invisible? At least covid-19 is active, not dormant. Active virus, which is endangering the economy, stability and lives, but on the other side of the coin, dormant representatives with a grandiose salary.

Our honorable during this crisis, whether government members, opposition members or external members, all are in agreement for once, that we are facing a challenging period, health wise, human wise and economic wise. Whichever bill, is being debated for the moment, we can see our spokesmen, suit up, and firing sweet words against each other, with conviction, they are fighting for the common man. Talks about economy, figures, estimates, all which I have no clue about, similar to many laymen, are being supposedly loud and clear in the house.

However at any point, despite the same members, mentioning on numerous occasions that were are facing an unprecedented burden, none of them had the sympathy to make humanitarian and selfless measures. For instance, placing on hold their entertainment package, to the benefit of those who might lose their job. I have been working for the past months, as a front liner, without any annual leave, no sick leave, 6/7 or even 7/7, long hours, but yet with the grace of the almighty, when the pandemic is over, similar to other essential workers in Mauritius, I will fund with pride my own entertainment.

Bringing to the point, how can the taxpayers pay for entertainment of the others? Blasting ‘I want figures, I want figures’ was shouted from one side to the other, but not a single moment, any questions asked, how much during all these years, the fat pensions of ex ministers, PM, president costed, even though someone has not even completed their service mandate. Astonishing cars, drivers, and other privilege, yet the same members sustained they are fighting for our flag. Common man, us who work for 40 years, and earn a pensions of rs9000, two mandates in the house, means fortuity for life.

Make no mistake my friends, for now, on live TV, we could see and hear flowers from the mouth of our opposing members in the benefit of our citizens, yet, at the next election, the same person might be vouching the praise of an alliance with the rival side. The temple of democracy, the parliament, is witnessing government vs opposing parties, however in few years, we could see those people hand by hand seeking for vote: ‘bizin changement’, ‘virer mam’, ‘devirer mam’, ‘progres bizin continier’, for who?

Please, students, with the traditional, cultural upbringing we received from our elderly, if ever your tutor ask to ‘lipeat it, lipeat it’, kindly show more respect rather than lashing a ‘waai’. Please, students, in a classroom of values, do not say ‘to met ar moi acoz to un professeur (pm)’.

Unfortunately, during the recent months, I have witnessed the death of several patients on a daily basis, and I even lost count. May they rest in peace, and find a better place. My sincere condolence to all the families, who lost their own ones, and I feel for their loss. Our brave doctor sadly lost to the invisible enemy. But with delight, ‘he’ expressed, and reminded that we ONLY had 10 death in the country. Let me say that, one death is too many.
But what do we know, what do I know, I am just a doctor, a common man. However, with conviction, I can acclaim that my heart is ROUGE, BLEU, JEUNE, VERT. Long live Mauritius.

By Dr Irfaan Daureeawoo (Mid Essex University Hospital – UK)