With the rising Covid 19 scare and the destruction it has caused in the country already, many bureaucrats are going all in to assist the needy in whatever way possible. Several civil servants who have a prior experience in the medical field are extending their duties not only as bureaucrats but also as medical professionals.
We at Indian Masterminds have started a series on such officers who don various caps to help the people of the country at a time when they really need it. Today the officer in context is Dr. Ehtesham Waquarib, presently serving as the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Koderma, Jharkhand.
Before getting into civil services, Mr. Waquarib did his MBBS and MD in community health from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). Now by converging his professional experience in the medical field and his duties as a civil servant, he is managing the treatment of Covid patients and is also visiting the remote hamlets of the district, where the patients are being treated.
ENGAGING WITH THE PATIENTS
Speaking about the second wave of Covid 19, Mr. Waquarib said “The devastating wave has been very terrible for all of us. While following the central and state government’s protocols, we are ensuring that the people of the district adhere to all rules and regulations. Last two months have been really tough but thankfully since I am a doctor myself, we could predict the outcome of this devastating wave. A plan was rolled out and as of now we are doing good.”
Apart from controlling the law and order in the district, Mr. Waquarib is playing the role of a doctor too. While speaking to Indian Masterminds, he said “As Covid 19 has left no country untouched, it has also deteriorated our country and the damage is huge. We have enough medical staff in our district but as the pandemic struck heavily on our doorsteps, I tried to fulfil my duties as a doctor, apart from heading the police force of the district. Taking some time off from the duty I often visit centres where Covid patients are being treated.”
Seeing a cop in the role of doctor might have surprised some patients, but it also motivated them at the same time as the officer interacted with them and took stock of the situation. Apart from this, he also kept a check on the management and treatment of patients which indeed gave a sense of security to many distressed people.
SERVING THE PEOPLE
By initially opting for a career in the medical field, the officer’s main aim was to serve the people and provide them succour. After pursuing post-graduation, he started working on field as a doctor. That is when he saw the real picture of the society and how the rural health infrastructure had been built. By working and gaining experience from that, he ventured into civil services. Here too he was guided by the larger perspective of serving the people. He qualified the UPSC exam and got into Indian Police Service (IPS) in 2015.
During the first wave of Covid 19 which lasted the beginning of this year, Mr. Waquarib led the containment-cum-surveillance team of East Singbhum district as SP Rail Jamshedpur. While heading the surveillance team, he created a 60-day road map to fight Covid 19 in Jharkhand’s largest industrial belt.
This is how, by using his past experience as a professional doctor and now as an IPS officer, Mr. Ehtesham Waquarib is providing aid to many distressed people during such trying times.
