coronavirus new york city

Coronavirus News: Med students volunteer to provide services like babysitting and pet walking for health care heroes

ByEyewitness News WABC logo

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Med students volunteer to provide services for health care heroes

Naveen Dhaliwal has more on the med students who are stepping up to help any way they can.

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- A group of medical students is selflessly volunteering their time to help those on the front lines by providing services like child care and pet care for health care workers.

With Gunjan Desai's clinical rotations on hold, the third-year medical student at Ross University knew she had to help those on the front lines.

"They're so overworked and they have extra shifts come out of nowhere, they don't know where to turn to," Desai said.

But they can now turn to her. Desai formed NYC's chapter of NYC COVIDSitters where she, along with her fellow medical students, provide free services for all essential workers in New York City and Long Island.

Those services can include childcare, pet sitting, pet walking, running errands or even online tutoring.

It's a godsend for Dr. Neelam Khan who is working 6-day, 80-hour weeks at SUNY Downstate in the COVID-19 unit.

"When I was off my shift, it was difficult to stop or get rest," Khan said.

One day, the severely sleep-deprived physician had to get a hazmat suit to a co-worker picking up a shift when she came across the group who offered to do it instead.

"The fact they're choosing to do this, a form of volunteering to help, relieving the people on the front lines, is amazing," Kahn said.

Desai says anyone who wants to volunteer or who needs the services can fill a form online -- and know there are strict safety guidelines.

"They have to sign a contract and we list the CDC guidelines and we send out a safety checklist once they get matched," Desai said.

So far nearly half a dozen people have been helped, and there are so many more to go.

"Even if we can help one health care worker, we did our part," Desai said.

Click here to learn more or email NYC COVIDSitters at NYCCovidSitter@gmail.com.