Dr. Usama Riaz is being hailed as a hero In Pakistan for courageously putting his life on the line to treat patients with Covid-19. Even though the 26-year-old doctor didnāt have adequate protective gear, he kept fighting for his patients until he eventually lost his life to the disease. He died on March 20.
Heās a hero in Pakistan but the world should know his name.
Riaz was part of a ten-person team screening pilgrims who recently returned to Pakistan from Iraq and Iran. He later treated these patients at isolation centers in Gilit, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
On March 20, after treating his patients, Riaz went to bed but couldnāt get up in the morning. He was rushed to a military hospital for a CT scan but the equipment didnāt work. He was put on a ventilator and died two days later.
āIt is with extreme sadness that the Gilgit-Baltistan health department confirms that Usama Riaz who played a key role in the war against coronavirus has passed away,ā the Gilgit Baltistan government tweeted on Monday.
āUsama proved himself the real hero by sacrificing his life to save others,ā Gilgit Baltistan Information Minister Shams Mir said. Riaz will be declared a national hero.
Itās believed that Riaz contracted the coronavirus because he didnāt have access to proper protective equipment. Other doctors in Pakistan have also contracted the disease for the same reason.
Even though Riaz knew he was in danger of catching the virus, it didnāt stop him from working to save the lives of his patients.