‘Humanity comes first’

COVID-19 survivor recounts road to recovery 

Kanili Kiho
Dimapur | May 21

Eleven days after being admitted in the District Hospital Dimapur (DHD) for COVID-19, popular Naga musician Sunep Lemtur is on the road to recovery. He was discharged from the hospital on May 19 and relocated to a hotel for further seven-day isolation.

On the night of May 18, Lemtur received his final report that read ‘negative’ to tears of joy. He had rushed to the hospital alone on May 7, after being ill with fever and mild cough for almost five days, which gradually turned to nausea and breathing difficulty.

Sharing his COVID-positive story, Lemtur confessed that he was quite reluctant to go to hospital at first. But after he started to throw up and have difficulty breathing, he decided that it was ‘now or never.’

When his report arrived positive the first day, Lemtur’s initial reaction was sheer nervousness, yet, “I had a strong feeling that I will get through,” he recalled, while quipping, “It is always good to be positive, not COVID-positive.”

Witnessing 11 others succumbing to the virus has been the “most horrific scene in my life,” he said. “As I walked through the corridor, I would see a dead body being wrapped up. That was so scary,” he said and put across that he has learned so much about humanity. “Humanity comes first. That is what I learned here.”

Through his personal experience, Lemtur shared that “COVID is very easy to overcome,” and also “very easy to give up.” He said that diet was crucial for fast recovery. While the sickness can turn out to be fatal, if one strictly maintains one’s diet, it takes about only two or three days to heal, he said.

According to Lemtur, his recovery was fast as he strictly maintained his diet. “I drank lots of warm water, green tea, exercised and did steaming. And by the grace of God I am fine now.”

“Many people die, not because of COVID but of fear. This is what I have seen here. There is a lot of fear and mental trauma involved. One has to be very cautious and positive.”

COVID is real
Stating that some have mistaken COVID for no more than a seasonal flu, Lemtur put across that it is not. “COVID is not a seasonal flu. It is real, because I know what I have been through, and we need to educate them,” he opined. He regretted that many people are simply staying at home with all the symptoms, which he considered ‘quite dangerous.’

The negative aspect he witnessed during his stay was a lot of complaining among the COVID patients, pressuring the hospital staff 24/7 for proper care. 

Lemtur further shared that the hospital authority allows one attendant to take care of the patients. However, he decided to opt out of it, not wanting to put any of his loved ones at risk. “Another problem with keeping an attendant is that most of them are now turning to be positive. The ones coming to look after the sick are in turn getting serious,” he said.

The young patients who succumbed to the virus were mostly due to lung infection, while the elderly who died had prevailing health issues like Asthma and Diabetes, he added.

Lemtur urged the people to seek medical help as soon as one gets the symptoms. Many young people had come just a little too late with all the infection, he said. 

“I also tried my best to help the patients in whatever way I could. Honestly, it felt like I went to the hospital to help people in need. Since we are all positive, we could care less about being infected. We would visit all the patients and try to encourage and help one another along with the staff.”

Stop the stigma
As soon as Lemtur tested positive, he checked on his staff and clients. “Fortunately, none of them had any symptoms. They are all doing well.” However, they were harassed, because of him. “Our society is very sick, with a sick mentality.

The problem is they put stigma on us. That is why I was a little disappointed, since there were no other cases except mine in my studio,” he said. He further appealed to the people, “Stop the stigma and really care for those around you infected with the virus.”

Now on the road to recovery, Lemtur expressed gratitude to all the healthcare workers who are working tirelessly for the sick. “It was all God’s grace,” he said and encouraged all to stay positive, really maintain social distancing and to stop being careless.

Lemtur who rose to popularity with his recent song ‘Mintu loves Pinky,’ was no less in the limelight even at the hospital; as the nurses teased him saying, “Do singers also get sick.”

Meanwhile, the musician has come up with three songs during his stay in the hospital. He intends to release them soon, adding that one of the songs is a humorous take on ‘corona.’