#UniteWithoutBorders: Health Expert Devi Sridhar On Effects Of Coronavirus And How To Cope With It

COVID-19 continues making its roots stronger across the world, with each passing day. Amidst this, we should not forget medical caregivers and healthcare professionals who are fighting against COVID-19 on the frontline. In an effort to support frontline warriors, NDTV in collaboration with the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the independent medical organisation has initiated a campaign ‘Unite Without Borders'. The campaign aims at raising funds to support the MSF's medical caregivers by providing them with essential equipment and containing the outbreak by distributing masks and hygiene kits to keep thousands of the most vulnerable people protected.

Also Read: WHO's David Nabarro Joins #UniteWithoutBorders, Highlights The Importance Of Investing In Public Healthcare

As part of the campaign #UniteWithoutBorders, a two-hour special telethon was organised which was joined by Devi Sridhar, Professor of Global Public Health, University of Edinburgh and Founding Director, Global, Health Governance Programme. At the telethon, Ms Sridhar spoke about the importance of groups like Doctors Without Borders in fighting global pandemics and said,

They are incredibly important because I think this is a virus and a disease that, if you do need medical care and you do not get it; you will die from this. And these groups that are providing this medical care are saving lives and doing very valuable work that we should all applaud and support.

Ms Sridhar further explained the current situation of the Coronavirus and how to cope up with it. Talking about the wide range of symptoms of COVID-19 and how it affects the human body, Ms Sridhar said,

The virus can present the classic symptoms which are, fever and dry cough. But increasingly it can also present as a loss of taste or smell. As well as others coming into hospitals with, like, blood clots in their lungs, or having a heart attack or heart issues. It's a multi-system disease which means it can affect the lungs, the heart, the kidneys, blood flow. And so it's recognising a wide range of presentation when you come in and also when you treat patients, the wide range of symptoms you will need to treat.

Also Read: #UniteWithoutBorders: Protecting The Frontline Warriors - Medical Caregivers In The Fight Against Coronavirus Pandemic

As on June 28, the world has reported over 1 crore cases of COVID-19. Of this, India accounts for 5.28 lakh cases of Novel Coronavirus. Talking about the constant increase in the number of cases and where do we stand with the curve of the virus, Ms Sridhar said,

Daily new records are being set for increasing cases. First it was 1,00,000 daily new cases and then it was 1,50,000, now it is 1,80,000-1,90,000. And I wouldn't be surprised if we are at 200,000 within days. So, it's really picking up the pace and taking off. We are still on the upper trend; just at the start to middle of this pandemic, unfortunately.