A group of volunteers belonging to the third gender are slogging it out night and day to help move COVID-19 patients in the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

Donning orange jackets, they maintain all safety measures, including wearing face masks, face shields and gloves, while helping the already admitted patients or those suspected of having the infection, Dhaka Tribune reported.

 Members of an organisation named Brihannala, the 10-member team has been working relentlessly alongside five males since April 15.

They wait in front of the COVID-19 unit of DMCH from morning till night, and even transport patients to nearby places via their battery-run auto-rickshaw.

“They are working as guides during this crisis period since we are short of supporting staff. They will be under our supervision and will be given official permission to do voluntary work here if necessary,” DMCH Director Brig Gen Nazmul Haque said, describing their role as ‘fascinating”.

Ramzan Ali, brother of a COVID-19 patient, was having problems getting any hospital staff to transport his brother from the ambulance to a ward after going through the “COVID-19 Triage” (checkpoint of the hospital).

Two of the volunteers, Sagarika and Priya, got the patient out of the ambulance, put him on a stretcher and took him to the ward later on.

“I feel proud that I am working for those who are the most neglected patients now. We help them collect admission tickets, show them the direction and sometimes we carry patients to and from the wards," Sagarika said.