Dear General, Comdt BHDC .. Our personal experience with my brother Col R S Bedi who died of covid was exceptional. The excellent care and efficient management including the dignified military honour send off with wreath laying etc conducted by the military and your staff at BHDC was laudable. So proud of your establishment”s commendable efficiency, professional work  and compassion in these trying times. I am convinced that any negative publicity directed at your establishment is definitely misplaced and unwarranted. Jai Hind. Maj Gen M S Bedi (retd)

*Lt Gen MS Dadwal*, has survived the Covid Attack. He and *Col Ravi Bedi*, both our course mates were admitted in the Army  Base Hospital,(BH) Delhi Cantt together.

As you are aware, Ravi Bedi unfortunately did not make it back. He is the first Covid victim of our course. May his soul RIP eternally.

Given below is the  FIRST HAND  experience of *Lt Gen MS Dadwal*:-

“Gentlemen I was discharged from the BH on 21 Apr at 2.30 PM. The Hospital is completely FULL and overflowing much beyond its stipulated bed capacity.*

They are only admitting critical cases. They admitted me on 17 Apr (FN) because my Lung CT Scan report, done in a Pvt Lab, showed all four lobes damaged due to penetration by the virus. Damage was from 26% to 49%.
Col RS Bedi was admitted on 16 Apr at 10 PM due to acute Covid Pneumonia.

They  put me on Oxygen forthwith and treated me for 4 days.  During this period I was shifted from General ward to Offrs Ward.  Once I had regained my oxygen levels and other critical parameters, I was requested to leave in order to make way for more serious patients.

On admission  a patient needs a dedicated bed with  oxygen connection,  monitoring instruments and other paraphernalia.
The staff is totally insufficient but they are doing their utmost.  Some of the staff are also getting infected and quarantined..
They are overworked and are required to  wear PPE throughout their tour of duty which is not easy day in day out. They have to move around the huge  area over which  the wards are spread attending to the emergencies and  other on call duties. I believe they are doing a remarkable job.

Brig Ravi Saigal,  our course mate while in queue waiting to collect his RT-PCR Report collapsed at the rxn centre. He had tested positive. He was kept in the hospital to be given  a Saline IV to regain consciousness and thereafter  discharged. Saigal and his wife (also tested +ve)  were advised home quarantine and self medication under doctors advise.
My experience and impression is that the BH and it’s staff is doing a great job in looking after both our Serving Offrs and veterans without any distinction.
.
The Covid Surge has happened and has effected all sections of our society including the Armed Forces. There is a complete overload on all our  systems which is being covered by the media.
The BH capacity is now being increased by moving out Non Covid patients to R&R Hospital. In  addition Army and DRDO have reopened the Vallabhbhai Covid Hospital adjacent to Palam Airport T1, which is open to all.
Please  don’t curse, rant and criticise the Army. In this crisis the whole nation has to sp each other. It is a national crisis.

All civ &  paramil med  resources incl hotels are being commandeered and  converted to Covid Facilities. It  is a national effort. We have to remember that  our veterans are being treated all over India,  in  Govt and Pvt hospitals. 

My appeal is please see the larger  picture and offer our full sp in this hour of crisis.
I am lucky I survived the ordeal, thanks to the care and support of the Army Base Hospital. My very dear friend Ravi Bedi was not so lucky. Om Shanti

Manbir Dadwal