By Siraj Khan, Nepalgunj, May 25: Ever since the PCR test lab was established in Bheri Hospital for the COVID-19 test last year, Prasanna Mishra has conducted RT-PCR tests of over 67,000 swab samples until now.

He has been working at the lab every day continuously for over 18 hours. In the past year, Mishra spent most of his time at Bheri Hospital's laboratory, putting swab samples of suspected COVID-19 patients to test.

The Bheri Hospital laboratory, which is in operation under the leadership of Mishra, has conducted 67,638 RT-PCR tests until now of which, 14,426 swab samples were found to be COVID-19 positive.

During the first wave of the pandemic, my family members and neighbours used to be scared of me as I used to work round-the-clock at COVID-19 laboratory, said Mishra.

"Considering that I could be a possible carrier of the virus in my family and community, it was fearful to work in the lab in the beginning," he said, adding that the fear had gone away now.

"Although it is very difficult to cover myself with PPE throughout the day in the scorching heat of Nepalgunj, looking at patients struggling with the virus infection makes me forget all of my difficulties," he said.

Stating that swab samples from various districts including Banke and Bardiya were brought to Bheri Hospital for COVID-19 test, Mishra said that he had been working at the lab for 15 hours straight to test hundreds of samples daily.

On duty even when infected

Currently, Mishra has been infected with the coronavirus. However, he has not let the infection halt his service. Mishra is staying in isolation at the laboratory itself, continuously putting swab samples to test.

"As the second wave has hit the nation hard, a huge number of swab samples is brought to our lab daily. Due to the lack of limited manpower, I couldn’t take rest and stay at home without attending my duties," said Mishra, adding, "As I have only general symptoms of COVID-19, I have been continuing with my work by isolating myself in the lab."

Moreover, Mishra complained that despite working round the clock in the laboratory, the government had not recognised the role plaid by laboratory professionals amidst the pandemic like the doctors and nurses working on the frontline.

He added that it was like an uphill battle for the healthcare professionals at Bheri Hospital including him while Banke district has become a COVID-19 hotspot in the second wave of the pandemic.