COVID-19 has created a brand new perception for the nurses- Heroes. The public perception of heroes has always been linked to doctors. Whereas, nurses have always been considered as those who solely work according to the guidance given out by the doctors. This course of the pandemic has made the entire world apprehend the value of the nurses. But do we appreciate them and are we grateful for the services they provide? Or is it just the need of the time making us address them as heroes? And how exactly are we showing our appreciation? By applause from balconies and streets.
Nurses have been dealing with a huge influx of patients and handling the patients along with the risk of infection transmission. The amount of deaths they face has been taking a toll on their mental health. Daniela Trezzi, a nurse at the San Gerardo Hospital in Monza, Italy was under heavy stress and committed suicide after being tested positive. According to the reports, she was terrified that she had infected others. Lack of sufficient and quality personal protection equipment (PPE) kits have resulted in many of the nurses testing positive. According to the reports, due to limited kits, one out of three nurses on a shift gets to use the complete kit, while others have to adjust with the usual gowns and masks.
Reports say nurses have been attacked and chased away from homes, suffered abusive and vulgar languages, and suffered an assault. At Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Tamil Nadu, a Covid-19 positive patient spat on a nurse treating him. There are many other cases similar to these. The accommodation facilities provided to nurses who are working or quarantined are horrific and disgusting. The Delhi government has given doctors the 5-starred Lalit Hotel for staying whereas, the nurses stay inside the hospital’s premises which has one common washroom for everyone and the beds are not arranged as per social distancing norms.
Lisha Jose, a nurse in New Delhi, who is eight months pregnant, was tested positive and had to wait for 24 hours for an ambulance to arrive. When she was leaving a crowd had come out to watch her. Many shot a video of her, while others stared. She said, “I felt like a criminal being taken away. What wrong had I done? I only did my duty.” While they fight against Covid-19, nurses like Jose are realising they have to pay a heavy price for doing their part. And for people over the world should respect them for their service and intend to mean it when the world addresses the nurses as “Heroes”.
References:
- https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tamil-nadu-trichy-coronavirus-patient-spits-at-nurse-booked-by-police-1666211-2020-04-12
- https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/covid-19-how-healthcare-workers-are-paying-a-heavy-price-in-this-battle/articleshow/75099895.cms
- https://www.news18.com/news/india/when-duty-takes-a-toll-sans-proper-facilities-ppes-delhis-nurses-fight-coronavirus-with-apathy-2573999.html
- https://www.sakaltimes.com/coronavirus-world/italian-nurse-34-commits-suicide-after-testing-positive-coronavirus-47989
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