Covid spike increases stress in healthcare workers

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 13

With a senior doctor from Fortis testing positive for Covid-19, panic has struck the hospital staff. Two from the nursing staff have also tested positive.

Healthcare workers from both the government and private sector are testing positive for the disease. On an average, six or seven healthcare workers are testing positive everyday.

To help the frontline healthcare workers keep stress and anxiety at bay, the Health Department has advised them to do yoga. Online yoga sessions are also being organised for them.

A staff nurse from the Civil Hospital said: “We are working day and night since the Covid outbreak. We have even worked for 12 hours at a stretch. Sometimes, it is exhausting because apart from duty, wearing a PPE kit in the scorching heat is quite a task in itself.”

As the number of cases is spiking these days, the workload and stress among healthcare workers is also increasing.

Rajini, a ward attendant at the Civil Hospital, said: “I am not posted inside the isolation ward, but still my routine is quite taxing these days.”

“I take an extra set of clothes with me. Change my clothes in the hospital after my duty is over. After coming back, I first wash my clothes in a disinfectant and finish home chores. Lot of time is consumed in all these tasks as I follow this routine every day,” she added.

Rural Medical and Ayurvedic Officers are putting in every effort along with doctors of the government sector to combat this difficult situation.

Recently, a team of ASHA workers went to Krishna Colony in Bhamian Khurd for the survey where they were gheraoed by residents.

“Team members were not allowed to collect data. Residents asked us to leave colony. They even tried to snatch our mobile phones and ID cards. Residents alleged that we collect data and are responsible for reports, which are coming positive for the disease,” said Balvir Kaur, ASHA worker.