Every day, those at the frontlines of COVID-19 pandemic across the world risk their lives. Their unparalleled commitment to enhance patient safety and bend the COVID-19 curve is the world’s only hope until a vaccine is available.
Health care workers are heroes and as such they deserve recognition, respect and support. Instead, sometimes they face violence, stigma, psychological and emotional distress, illness and even death. Stressful working environments are particularly challenging because they make health workers more prone to errors which can lead to patient harm.
On World Patient Safety Day, WHO wants to help health care workers’ voices to be heard and is asking everyone, everywhere, to be kind, compassionate and supportive towards our real-life heroes.
Going far and beyond
In the beginning of the Rohingya emergency response, Md. Shakhawat and Shahed used to carry backpacks of 10kg of medicines each up and down the hill every day. WHO Bangladesh/Tatiana Almeida
The only health facility for 5000 Rohingya refugees at the heart of Ukhiya, in Cox’s Bazar, the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society/Canadian Red Cross health post at camp 8W, is difficult to reach. Far from the main road, the path to the facility is muddy, steep and prone to floods and landslides during the rainy season. And yet, in three years, paramedic Md. Shakhawat Hossain has never missed a day at work.
“I used to carry a 10 kg bag with medicines up and down the hill every day because we did not have storage equipment. Our next goal is to have our own toilet which is not shared with camp community and drinking water. But regardless the challenges we face, health care is a priority and the Rohingya people need us here”, says Shakhawat.
Prior to the corona virus pandemic, this health post was already an important centre for community health promotion and education with special emphasis on hand washing hygiene. To date, two suspected COVID-19 cases were identified here but none was confirmed.
Dr Tiasa and Midwife Afroza educate Rohingya women and girls about early marriage, gender-based violence and reproductive health in safe space sessions for women. WHO Bangladesh/Tatiana Almeida
“Early this year I participated in a WHO infection prevention and control training to help my team respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, keeping our patients safe has been a priority for us”, tells Dr Tiasa Azad Aurthy, Medical Officer.
Championing infection prevention and control
To date, Dr Aritra Das and his team provided treatment and care to 22 COVID-19 patients and didn’t lose one single battle to the highly infectious disease. WHO Bangladesh/Tatiana Almeida
Working in the Rohingya camps since 2018, Dr Aritra Das saw a dramatic change in his daily life when the COVID-19 pandemic started unveiling major challenges and risks for health care workers and patients. Trained by WHO, he soon became an infection prevention and control (IPC) focal point at Food for Hungry/UNHCR Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Isolation and Treatment Center (SARI ITC) at Camp 5, in Ukhiya.
“To date, we had 22 COVID-19 patients. We took the opportunity to educate our patients and help prevent further infections in the Rohingya refugee camps. Together we can fight this virus”, says Dr Aritra.
Gestures of kindness
In June, Medical Assistant Jihan Sheikh got infected with COVID-19 and experienced mild symptoms. WHO Bangladesh/Tatiana Almeida
“Being a COVID-19 patient had a great impact on me especially during the isolation period. Being sick, I could not help my patients and that depressed me. My team was very supportive and provided psychosocial care, gestures of kindness that I will never forget”, recalls Jihan.
Most at risk, humanitarian workers can receive specialized and compassionate care at the UN Clinic in the city of Cox’s Bazar. With support from different UN Agencies, the UN Clinic has been equipped to provide quality care for humanitarians infected with COVID-19 under the guidance of WHO.
Medical Officer at the UN Clinic, Dr Lamia Osman developed an allergy the first time she used personal protective equipment (PEE). “Wearing PPE is not an easy task with the heat and humidity. The maximum time I spent with PPE was 2 hours, and still in the beginning I developed rashes and blisters all over my hands, arms and feet”, says Dr Lamia.
With the support of WHO, the UN Clinic in Cox’s Bazar has five beds ready to receive humanitarians who get infected. WHO Bangladesh/Tatiana Almeida
For Dr Lamia the biggest challenge to date is community engagement in preventing the spread of the virus. “My family took the pandemic seriously only after my mother tested positive for corona virus. She was my first COVID-19 patient and when I saw her - a strong woman - feeling so sick it broke my heart”, she recalls.
To enhance her patient’s safety, Dr Lamia is frequently tested to prevent any risk of transmission to her patients.