As COVID-19 wreaks havoc in everyday life of millions in this country, the disease has laid bare the crevices of economic hardships in the society that pushes people to scramble for basic resources in their day to day lives. However, in these trying times humanity has come forward in various heroes who have stood tall in the wake of desperate times. One such Samaritan is Dr Mahendra Chaurasia based at Bhilai. Dr Chaurasia works as a Physician at Mobile Medical Unit in Charoda. But, in his free time he can manage to spare, he has been distributing masks, sanitizers to hundreds of people from different walks of life who are unable to reach out and get help. “Everyday I distribute masks and sanitizers till 11:00 pm. Till date, I have distributed more than 15000 masks and 4000 pieces (100 ml bottle) sanitizers,” said an elated Dr Chaurasia while talking to ‘The Hitavada’.

 

Dr Chaurasia covers the length and width of the state distributing these aides through his own two-wheelers and sometimes hires private vehicles for long distance inter-district movement. Most importantly, the young doctor has been doing all this humane work from his own salary and has never taken help from any known government or private institutions. Till date, according to this enthusiastic doctor, he has covered more than 7,500 kilometres of his human quest spanning over four districts in Durg, Raipur, Rajnandgaon and Balod districts respectively.

 

Dr Chaurasia believes that wearing masks while out in public space is the only way to prevent people from contracting Covid-19. This 32-year-old physician during his tour to different places also demonstrates how to wear a mask properly. Not only to commoners, he has also distributed masks at police stations, to paramedics, at the municipal corporation, to the truck drivers, at vegetable markets, petrol pumps, and all public places where he found people not wearing masks properly. Dr Chaurasia believes that wearing masks and maintaining physical distance are two major actions that can save hundreds of lives apart from the medicines and vaccines.