Actor-doctor Yogesh Kumar Aharwar turns COVID-19 warrior

Actor-doctor

Yogesh Kumar Aharwar

, who was seen in the film '

Dil Sala Sanki

' (2016) and also in plays like 'Taj Mahal Ka Tender' and 'Andha Yug', is fighting the battle against

COVID-19

from the frontline. The 28-year-old medical practitioner is currently posted in the isolation ward for coronavirus patients at a city hospital.

Yogesh decided to go back to medicine when he didn’t get the kind of roles he wanted in showbiz. He says, “I knew that making it as an actor wouldn’t be easy, because along with hard work and dedication, luck is a major factor. I couldn’t keep waiting for the right offers, so I got back to medicine around two years ago. Now, acting is like a hobby, and I take up projects whenever I get a good opportunity.”

Talking about his daily routine as a medical professional battling the pandemic, he shares, “For the 12-hour shift, you are under five layers of PPE (personal protective equipment). Also, the AC is switched off in the isolation ward, as you cannot take the risk of the virus spreading through the vents.”

Yogesh has been on COVID-19 duty for almost a month now. He adds, “I wear an adult diaper throughout the shift because once your PPE suit is on, you can’t take it off until your duty is over. Once you take it off, it isn’t sterile anymore and must be discarded. Since PPEs are expensive, you don’t want to use more than one in a day.”

When asked how he deals with the anxiety, given the fact that many doctors and nurses have tested positive for coronavirus while tending to patients, he says, “Of course, I am scared. It’s not only the doctors, but also the housekeeping staff, the pathologists, the pantry staff… everybody is vulnerable. I am also concerned about my family. My sister is pregnant and my mother is a heart patient. When I return home, I don’t hug them, touch them or even talk much to them. I just go to my room and stay put.”