Let’s support, celebrate our doctors, nurses

Mostafa Kamal Majumder
A number of doctors have been reported coronavirus positive in the last few days. Needless to say, they contracted the virus after unsuspectingly seeking Covid-19 patients in Dhaka and several other districts. Like doctors paramedic nurses come into close contact with patients and run the risk of being contaminated.It is both for the doctors and the paramedics who are in the frontline of our defence against the coronavirus pandemic that we see the hope of a win over the catastrophic worldwide attack for the last four months and a half. Suddenly there has emerged the need for PPEs (personal protective equipment) for the doctors and nurses to deal which Covid-19 cases and prevent their own infection by coronavirus.
Even after taking PPEs some 15 doctors are reported to have died in Wuhan in China where the virus first broke out. This is not to undermine the need for PPEs but to emphasise that even PPEs should be used properly to protect from infection. Also those deaths might have been due to infections contracted before starting the use of PPEs. It’s a matter that can be resolved through a research.
But one thing that can hardly be overemphasised is the courageous humanitarian role our doctors and nurses, as those elsewhere in the globe, are playing to ensure recovery of patients and safety of all others who have not been infected. ‘Boris Johnson has said he owes his life to the NHS staff treating him for coronavirus. The prime minister, 55, thanked medics at St Thomas’ hospital in London, where he continues to recover after spending three nights in intensive care, BBC News reported. What a tribute?
The coronavirus situation in the United King is reported to be now the worst in Europe, but the British government and people never fail use words of admiration of services of their National Health Service and encourage them through occassional clapping.
Anybody who gets ill in Bangladesh runs to the doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Despite there being some reports of refusal of treatment out of fear of contracting coronavirus, doctors and nurses by and large treated patients and some of them have become victims. They are our frontline defenders and should be supported with an adequate supply of personal protective equipment so that they feel secured and can concentrate on dealing with patients without worries of infecting themselves. This is absolutely urgent.
Shortage of PPEs should not be a matter to blame for. Even the British government on Sunday publicly felt sorry for shortage of PPEs for their health service personnel. The good news is PPEs are being produced in the country by some garment factories. And those should be reached to doctors and paramedics urgently.
However, until such time as the supply of PPEs to all health services personnel and the members of law enforcing agencies who are enforcing lockdowns is ensured, they should consider whether they can share PPEs with their colleagues between work shifts. And those health care personnel who are yet to get PPEs should be encouraged to wear their aprons plus use face masks and hand gloves to protect themselves.
Recent news photos show unsuspecting paramedics taking care of patients without using masks and hand gloves which is very risky. This should be avoided. Because infection of doctors and nurses will reduce the number of frontline warriors in the battle against Covid-19. It is to be noted that the World Health Organisation has reported the infection of 22,000 health workers around the world in the current fight against the virus.
The authorities concerned should also take an initiative to identify the heroes in the bold fight against the worldwide menace, recognise and celebrate them with awards and honourable mentions. This will encourage others to follow their example of good work.
It is encouraging to note that the authorities have succeeded to start mapping of coronavirus cases. They are being aided by an Artificial Intelligence based digital survey initiated by telecom Company Robi with active participation of the government’s a2i project.
At this stage of the fight, however, there is no scope for letting up. The fight should continue with the same vigour till such time as zero domestic infection is achieved as in China’s Wuhan. The vigil will need to be continued even after the achievement of that feat. The World Health Organisation has warned of a second wave of coronavirus attack till infection comes to a halt in all countries of the world.
(The Writer is the Editor of GreenWatch Dhaka online newspaper) 12 April 2020