“It was over a short period of time, but it has had a great impact on every health worker. We were just one of the hospitals in the town treating Covid 19 patients since the beginning of the pandemic. We opened a new ward dedicated to Covid 19 patients and began with the Holy Mass and a Blessed Sacrament procession. I can confidently say that we felt the presence of God in our hospital. In the beginning, it was literally entering into the unknown. As I sat before the Lord my prayer was ‘Give me strength and place healing in my hands that I may treat the patients with your healing power,’ shares Sr. (Dr.) Antony Sophia, a Sister doctor working in the Covid 19 ward and treated several patients in St Joseph’s Hospital, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.

She narrates, “I specifically remember a few critically ill people, like Mr Singarayan, an 84year old male, a known case of uncontrolled type-II diabetes and hypertension, whose saturation was never picking up not more than 84%, or even 80% sometimes; his saturation level was very critical even with concentrated oxygen. We were trying to put him in a prone position, and with a few exercises, along with an oxygen drink (Coconut milk with Clove powder) and other allopathic medication. Every time he strains himself and tries to speak, his saturation level used to drop and he starts gasping for breath. With prayers, our continuous monitoring and nursing care, we brought his saturation level above 95%. The cooperation of the family was unbelievable. They completely trusted us, even after our request to shift him to a different centre. The family had complete faith in St. Joseph Hospital and in our medical team, which encouraged us to treat him.

With renewed spirit and courage, we did what we could and began to notice a gradual improvement in him. I was very happy to discharge him, with a controlled sugar level and lowered hypertension. Mr. Singarayan comes to the reviews regularly, and he is doing well.”

She informed that they have treated nearly 50 thousand people in the Out-Patients and more than 1500 in the In-Patients basis in the covid ward. There were times when I felt low, particularly when there was death; but that did not stop me from working for the other patients. Unlike normal times, I had to work 24/7. I have to say that we have an excellent team comprised of religious sisters and lay volunteers. There was so much joy and happiness whenever there was a discharge and patients went home without any complications. Those were the joy-filled moments. 

Caritas India has supported St. Joseph’s Hospital under its Second Level Treatment Centres in Tamil Nadu. There are many such successful cases discharged from this centre. People have shown high trust in receiving holistic treatment from the hospital. The hospital also provides counselling to the patients and medical guidance to the patient’s relatives for proper understanding of the disease and care of patients at home. 

Sr. Antony and St. Joseph Hospital thank Bishop of Dindigul Most. Rev. Thomas Paulsamy for his guidance and support and Fr. Samson Arockiadass, the Director of Dindigul Multipurpose Social Service Society, for being a source of motivation for mobilising resources to procure medicines and medical equipment to save innumerable lives.
She also acknowledges the concern of Caritas India especially State Manager Dr. John Arokiaraj for serving the most marginalised people.