A group of youths in Birbhum’s Suri and two doctors of a government hospital have started a Fever Clinic on Wheels to provide treatment to Covid-19 patients on the doorstep.

The team hired an e-rickshaw known as toto to ferry the doctors, an oxygen cylinder and other required equipment to treat patients at home.

The move comes at a time when people, mostly Covid patients, across the state are depending on telemedicine to get treated.

“Primarily, we are reaching out to 10 patients a day in Suri town. Our goal is to reach out to patients at a time when many of them are facing trouble with their treatment. The doctors are visiting the houses of patients and checking them,” said Priyanil Pal, one of the organisers. Pal and his friends run a self-funded NGO Upohar to help the needy.

Dr Jishnu Bhattacharyya checks a patient at home in Suri Telegraph picture

Helping the youths in their effort are two doctors — Jishnu Bhattacharyya, a consultant neuropsychiatrist of Suri district hospital and Priyanta Sarkhel, a paediatrician of Rampurhat Medical College and Hospital.

“It was a welcome initiative at a time when most doctors have stopped treating patients in private chambers. Patients always prefer to have get checked by doctors physically and treated. I immediately agreed to join the effort of the youths when they approached me,” said Bhattacharyya who attended to 10 patients on Thursday.

“People are afraid to visit hospitals for consultation because of the pandemic. Patients are really happy when they are getting us on the doorstep,” said Bhattacharyya.

Apart from treating the patients, the youths and the doctors are also providing free medicines to the needy patients and arranging for their hospitalisations. Bhattacharya has donated Rs 30,000 to buy oxygen cylinders that they carry in the e-rickshaw to help patients who might require it.

“We admitted two Covid patients to a hospital early today as they reported breathing trouble,” said Priyanil.