COVID-19 or coronavirus pandemic has engulfed over 150 nations across the world. With the deadly virus originating from our neighbour, China, the government of India is taking all the measures it can. But, is it enough?

All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, New Delhi (AIIMS) is India’s pioneer hospital and medical college. It is one of the only two testing facilities available for the coronavirus in the national capital.

With the rapidly increasing COVID-19 cases in India, I was worried and wanted to get myself checked as I recently travelled from Bengaluru. I tried reaching out government’s helpline for coronavirus, 011-23978046, but to no avail. Thanks to my unawareness, I even tried contacting some private path-labs, again, to no avail. It was then that I decided to visit AIIMS.

As soon as I reached the AIIMS, I saw people standing outside the gate in large number. It was scary, as I could see people without masks, coughing uncontrollably. But I was prepared for it. I had my mask on and sanitizer handy.

I entered the gate and could see fear on the faces of people in the campus. I reached out to guard standing near the waiting area and inquired about the parking. He guided me and gently offered an advice, ‘Beta zyaada choona-chaana matt kuchh. corona faila hai.’ (Son, don’t touch anything. Coronavirus is spreading)

I reached the AIIMS parking zone and parked my bike. Saw a parking worker sitting nearby without a mask, so I nudged, ‘mask nahi pehna bhaiyya aapne? aapka to din-bhar ka kaam hai?’ (Why aren’t you wearing face-mask?)

‘Ab kya karein bhaiya ee corona ka? hum to bas yu neeche jhukte hai, ee uthate aur corona phus.’ (What can we do about coronavirus, brother? We just bend, pick this up and corona is gone) he said, picking up a bottle of hand santizer and sanitizing his hands.

As I moved towards the reception area, I saw a number of people waiting in the premise, some with and others without face masks. Everyone was sceptical, talking about their versions of coronavirus.

People waiting inside the premises

As I reached the Patient Reception Centre (PRC), I was surprised to see it closed. Given, the panic around COVID-19, I was expecting long queues of patients and relatives.

I asked the way to the Pulmonology department. On the way, I saw people sitting on the ground, wherever comfortable. In short, it wasn’t a very pleasant site to see, keeping in mind the precautions advised by the health bodies.

As I moved on, I saw people coming out of the Pulmonology department wearing masks or handkerchiefs. To my relief, people who did not have masks or a cloth to cover their faces, were not permitted inside the department.

No official personnel inside was ready to talk about the deadly virus.

‘According to government guidelines, only people with travel history to affected countries will be tested with recommended protocol,’ a medical staff told me.

I tired to explain why it is important I get tested, but to no avail.

Dejected, I came out of the department and headed towards the central canteen. As I moved forward, I saw people in dreadful condition in the waiting area. But, this was expected.

What horrified me was the pharmacy, on the way to the canteen.

A fully crowded, unhygienic hotbed for coronavirus to flourish and spread, the pharmacy made me realise my worst fears.

Visitors, relatives and patients all gathered in a relatively small, crowded, closed facility!

In country’s top most medical institute, the one leading the war against the novel coronavirus, people gathered in huge number to get their low-cost generic medicines! A disaster waiting to happen.

People inside the pharmacy

Scared, I walked past the pharmacy towards the canteen. Although, I no longer wanted to eat anything, I entered the canteen and without wasting a second, looked out for washbasin or washroom.

Adding to my worries, I saw poorly maintained wash basins, a water-cooler in non-working state and flies all around. I was hoping there would at least be a hand sanitizer or soap available, but, I was expecting too much.

Wash basins at the central canteen

I saw a cleaning worker nearby and asked him if there is some soap available. He pointed towards the canteen washroom.

It was then that a young girl started complaining about the flies to him, ‘Bhaiya, idhar poori makkhiyaan udd rahi hai, smell aa rahi hai… Aisie mei koi kaise khaaye? Aap please boliye inhe saaf karvaane ke liye.’ (Brother, it’s too smelly out here, flies are all around. How can one eat here? Please, ask them to clean this place.)

‘What can be worse?’ I wondered as I moved towards the washroom. ‘Not again,’ I said to myself as I looked at the condition of the washroom.

Yes, but I did find some liquid soap in a plastic bottle, a makeshift container!

Central canteen’s washroom

Shocked to see the condition of the facilities at India’s healthcare pioneer, AIIMS, I was determined to talk to medical staff.

As I moved towards the gents hostel, I overheard two young doctors discussing COV…