Frontline health workers need public support, empathy in these tough times

Team Herald

It’s 5.30 am and it is time for Akshata Dessai to wake up. The nurse from South Goa District Hospital has to leave her house in Cuncolim by 7.15 am to be in time for her shift that commences at 8 am. Her shift is supposed to end at 4 o’clock but it never does. She could be done at 6 pm or even 8 pm. That is in essence a 12 hour shift. She admits it does not happen regularly but it is known to happen. The virus has changed the rules everywhere. 

Dessai said “Most of the time we don’t have time to have food. Most of the nurses suffer from urinary tract infection because once you wear the Personal Protective Equipment you cannot drink water, eat food or relieve yourself. Most of the staff has to do double shifts because members of the staff are testing positive. Sometimes 3 nurses are handling 100-105 patients. It is a three storey building. We have six wards, one ICU and an ITU in addition to a casualty ward. The staff has a very tough time but the sense of devotion to the job is unbelievable.” Despite being tired she sounded very positive about handling the task.

No task can be handled single handedly. All the fingers on both hands have to work in unison. The general public she felt could show their appreciation for the work being done by the front line workers by co-operating. 

Dessai said “Please understand the shortage of things is not our fault. Most of the patients scream at us and their relatives who accompany them abuse us. They should show some understanding. We are working with what we have. We are all trying to cope with this situation. No one was prepared. We are all adapting to new methods, treatment protocols that will help the patients. We as nurses have to also take care of our health. People don’t seem to understand the situation on the ground. We inform the higher authorities and they are also trying. It would help everyone if the public cooperated and spoke to the medical staff in a decent tone.” A very reasonable request one might add.

Anil Laxmangaonkar a male nurse or a brother as they are called, comes from Pernem everyday to work at the GMC. A shortage of staff caused by the opening of the new super specialty section has meant doing double shifts is par for the course. It is usual to have 3 nurses for 60 patients but that has now been reduced to two.  

When asked what he would like the general public to do for them, he said “For the last two months due to the curfew people have been cooperating. But we still see so many people on the road. This can lead to transmissions. Many people don’t know how to use a mask. People are not taught how to use it, it is important to cover the nose and mouth. I feel the authorities should organize sessions where the relevant information should be given out.” 

He urged families to not come when their relative was being admitted. He said it caused unnecessary congestion at the hospital. Anil ended by saying blaming each other was not helpful and everyone had to cooperate and fight this battle together.  Feeling exhausted and slumping into bed after an ultra long shift seems to be a pattern in the daily lives of nurses. 

Shikha Tirodkar a nurse at the Asilo Hospital Mapusa said it was all very nice to receive thanks from everyone for being at the sharp end in the battle against the virus but it would be nice if the general public followed all the rules and did not step out unnecessarily. And yes not have relatives screaming at them. 

She said “We are not asking for much, we just want the people to have patience.”

Doctors like nurses are also feeling the brunt of people’s emotions. Ritesh Asilo who is based at the North Goa District Hospital said he was on call 24 hours. He said he was on a shift but the shifts were usually extended. He said there were 6 doctors for 8 wards and the pressure on them was tremendous. Ritesh said “I would like to see the general public tested on time and I will say this home quarantine does not work in Goa.  This is because there is an absence of discipline. People have to be motivated to fight this. That’s the only way we can fight this virus. If you are at home get vaccinated and wear masks wherever it is required.”    

Murtuza Ali the co-owner of Apna Bhada said “I salute all the healthcare workers for their selfless contribution to the society. We have been doing our part of helping the frontline workers by arranging transport for the patients on request of the doctors and nurses. In places of inaccessible ambulance services, we have been able to give the Covid patients and their relative’s free ride to the hospital.  In one incident it so happened that a doctor’s husband couldn’t get an ambulance to shift him to the hospital, that’s when they called me and we instantly arranged for the ride”.

Perhaps the final word can go to a doctor who is working in a government hospital in the north. Speaking on the condition her name would not be revealed she said the work being done by the frontline staff was unbelievable but their work was not being appreciated by the government who were shortchanging them with regards to their increment. They were also not being helped by the general attitude of the public who did not seem to understand how sinister this virus was. The doctor hoped when people read about the virus and how it was battled years later, the efforts of the front line workers would have been highlighted in bright lights because without them it would have descended into absolute chaos.

They work in conditions no one in their sane mind would want to go through. One can only hope these brave men and women stay safe and continue to do the job they have decided to do.