Dr. Ayub Khan, Pride of Pakistan

Dr. Ayub Khan is considered as one of the most fearless, enthusiastic and brave doctors who are working as front line soldiers for Pakistan in order to fight against invisible enemy i.e. Covid-19. When the outbreak of Covid-19 began in Pakistan. There was fear everywhere. No one knew what to do and where to go. Covid-19 cases were multiplying day by day. At that time, Government took some important measures in order to control this outbreak in proper channelized way. Dr.Ayub is of one the expert doctors who are appointed by Government for emergency period of 89 days in the city of Karachi.

On daily basis, Dr. Ayub is given task by the government and his team has to fulfill it. It was included in Dr. Ayub’s duty to visit the residence of those patients who are already found Covid-19 positive. Those patients who are isolated in their homes. Even the family members of those patients feel scared to enter their rooms. These patients complain that people treat them as inferior or untouchable species. In such critical situation, Dr.Ayub and his team members visit those patients after every 8 to 10 days for re-sampling, once Covid-19 patient is on recovery stage. According to patients, behavior of Dr.Ayub is always very kind and gentle. He always treat them with care. He gives them hope and courage for speedy recovery. His duty also includes visiting different communities of Karachi, where they do sampling process of countless suspected victims of corona.

Those areas, which are considered as highly infected areas or sealed areas regarding number of Covid-19 patients. Dr. Ayub has to visit them in order to conduct sampling of all suspected victims. Mostly, people are found Covid-19 positive after sampling results.  According to Dr.Ayub, on May 2^nd 2020, he has done 152 sampling tests just in a day whose results were awaited to be announced a couple of days later.

As we, all know that Holy Month of Ramadan is being observed this year in the month of May, which is considered as hottest month of the year in Karachi. Most of the citizens are observing fasting at homes in order to avoid heat outside during daytime but Dr. Ayub has to wear doctor’s heavy costume, working under hot sun and visiting different locations, which are heavily infected by corona. When we interviewed Dr.Ayub online, he was talking like a brave soldier who has no fear of risking his life in order to serve humanity. He said that when citizens do not care about social distancing and take this outbreak easy, this non-serious attitude brings disastrous outcome not only for the citizens but also for the doctors and families of the doctors too; as these citizens put the lives of Doctors even in more danger then themselves..

A couple of days later, on 5^th May 2020, Dr. Ayub was himself found Covid-19 positive. A person, who was serving his entire nation fearlessly as a front line soldier, had to face the situation, when he became isolated as a wounded soldier. He was separated from his family. On his second online interview with me, his morale was still very high. His motivation to bounce back after speedy recovery and to serve his nation again reminded me the famous quote of Great Allama Iqbal.

 

When I asked him, “What will you do if you recover from Corona Virus?” He replied, “I will serve my nation again with even more enthusiasm. He further said, “I am a soldier, who is fighting for the nation, if I die, I am Shaheed (Martyr), if I survive, I am Gaazi (Victorious)”. His words were inspiring. I have no hesitation in calling Dr. Ayub as “Mujahid” who is serving Pakistan like a true hero. We all pray for Dr.Ayub’s speedy recovery and we all want to see Dr.Ayub back in action again, as he is real asset of Pakistan in the field of medicine.