‘We have to do what we have to do’: Despite Covid-19 risk, healthcare workers assert commitment to serve

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Dec. 6 (EMN): After years of toiling in the shadows among the weak and the ailing, the pandemic has finally hauled frontline workers, across the globe, to where they have always belonged: the forefront.

It, therefore, comes as no surprise that the stories of some nurses and doctors assigned to the intensive care unit (ICU) at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) serve as a testimony to the dedication and commitment they have towards their profession—taking care of patients under critical conditions, without getting a single day off for months together.

Their load compounded when some of their colleagues were infected with Covid-19 while catering to the needs of both Covid and non-Covid patients at the hospital.

A nurse who has been attending to Covid-19 patients at the ICU was recently released after testing negative for Covid-19. She had been admitted with 14 other employees of NHAK, which included staff nurses, ward boys and girl and sweepers.

Speaking to Eastern Mirror, the nurse shared how she was under stress on the sixth day of her isolation period, waiting for her test report before being released the following day.

Even after her test returned negative, she was nurturing apprehension because three of her colleagues had to be admitted to the Covid-19 cabin at NHAK after they were declared positive.

The nurse, who has been serving at the ICU for seven years, said that all three of the positive patients were asymptomatic.

She said that since they are at higher risks of exposure to the infection, anyone among them might contract the virus any time.

Asked what pushes her to serve patients despite the threat around, the nurse responded that their work requires them to ‘deal with the lives of others’ without hesitation, regardless of any situation.

“We should do what we have to do,” she simply put.

Another nurse, whose test returned positive for Covid, said that she received her result while undergoing isolation at one of the quarantine centres, a week ago.

As she was not ‘experiencing any health issues’, the nurse was said to have been taken aback when she received the report. 

Her immediate thoughts, she said, was about her roommates and others with whom she had come into contact. “I was worried that my team members would get into trouble because of me,” she said.

Fortunately, none of her roommates tested positive, she shared.

Asked if she would continue to work in the ICU after her recovery, she replied that in the affirmative, asserting that it was her responsibility to do so.

“We have shortage of staff. If our result is negative again, we will go back to our duty,” she said.

Asked about the reason behind such commitment to work, she replied that they have taken the “nurse’s pledge” to serve patients against all odds.

“This is the time when people need us the most,” the nurse said.

An ICU doctor said that the fear and apprehension in connection with the virus has not changed much even today.        

Despite many healthcare workers contracting the virus, he said that they have no choice but to attend to patients who come with complications, regardless of directives to maintain physical distancing and follow other SOPs.

“When a person is suffering, we have to do what we have to do,” the doctor said.

“Medical professionals or not, we are all human beings. Covid-19 is infecting human beings and no one is escaping,” he said. However, ‘by the grace of God, there has not been any casualty (among healthcare workers) so far despite some of us getting infected’, he shared.

Referring to NHAK, he said that the manpower in the hospital is “very less” and their biggest worry is when the medical professionals get sick.

However, the hospital has made ‘enough arrangements’ to ensure that the works are not too taxing for the health professionals, he maintained.

The doctor also shared that they don’t get the ‘luxury of getting so many days for quarantine’ like other states as they are looking after both Covid-19 patients and those at non-Covid ICU.

He shared that they “are trained” to face any situation in the hospital. “If not us, no one else will do it (to look after the patients),” he added.

According to the doctor, sacrifices have to be made because they cannot expect others to come and do the jobs they have been trained for.

“Our people have to take care of our people,” he said.

He also shared that the NHAK does not have enough facilities and medical professionals like other states, adding that the hospital is ‘just getting equipped’ and they are only now learning how Covid-19 cases are progressing.