In the times when our country is struggling with COVID-19, no one can deny how our healthcare workers are working round the clock to save lives. The increasing cases have posed significant challenges for health care workers, with many facing the brunt of long, tiring working hours.
As the pandemic is becoming more fierce, our health care workers continue to fight not only coronavirus, but also its psychological and emotional impacts. With long working hours, the risk of contracting coronavirus, and fear of transferring the virus to their families, the medical workers are fighting many endless battles.
Recently, a mental health care professional shared the heart-breaking reality of the stress that health care professionals are facing.
Vandana Mahajan, mental health professional based out of Mumbai, had to spend a week in the hospital after contracting COVID-19. During her stay, she mentioned how being a mental health professional, she couldn’t resist but interact with doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals. She posted a heart-wrenching picture of an exhausted nurse wearing a PPE kit who was resting while sitting on a chair.
I hd Covid n was admitted for 6 days. This picture will stay with me. For the ones reading this tweet- they are humans too! As a mental health professional I couldn’t help but be there for them. Follow the thread .. #COVIDSecondWave #COVID19 #COVID pic.twitter.com/xqxU37o1gL
— Vandana Mahajan (@oceanblue11oct) April 15, 2021
Vandana shared snippets of the conversations she had with the healthcare professionals.
“I saw the hospital staff bearing the load of the damn virus! I made conversations with the sisters and brothers….With the housekeeping staff…With the young doctors on duty there, with my consultant who came in too see me and support me,” she said.
In the subsequent conversations, the nurse shared how she had been working long hours ever since COVID hit the country. She also mentioned how after completing her shifts, she has to go home to help her son with her exams. And how her husband is coming home after four years. But she can’t go and pick him at the airport.
I asked a nurse on duty – how long have you been doing this?
— Vandana Mahajan (@oceanblue11oct) April 15, 2021
She said Since Covid hit. I hv a son who stays with my parents. For the first few months of Covid I stayed in the hostel. I didnt go home. Now he has exams, so I finish my duty..go home teach
him…..My husband works in the gulf. He is coming home after 4 years. I want to go to the airport to receive him but can’t. She is a mother , a wife n a daughter.
— Vandana Mahajan (@oceanblue11oct) April 15, 2021
Vandana shares the heartbreaking experience of other health professionals, whom she met during her hospital stay.
A male nurse comes up to chk my vitals. I strike a conversation with him.I I asked ” heard you perform CPR yesterday night.
— Vandana Mahajan (@oceanblue11oct) April 15, 2021
Him- the patient died. We tried our best n we speak for some more time
I thank him for being there. He wanted to express his anguish at losing a pt.
For the ones who don’t know -once the HCP wear their PPE’s they cant even go pass urine. They don’t eat or drink for hours so that they dont have the urge to use the Loo. If its urgent, they go in a loo reserved for them and then they have to get into new PPE’s
— Vandana Mahajan (@oceanblue11oct) April 15, 2021
A sister told me that their biological clock has been disrupted. They have stomach problems, ulcers in their mouth and if one of them is menstruating , changing a sanitary pad is a humanly impossible task.
— Vandana Mahajan (@oceanblue11oct) April 15, 2021
The doctors on duty are exhausted! Each one of the HCP in the Covid ward fears that they too will get this effing virus.
— Vandana Mahajan (@oceanblue11oct) April 15, 2021
Where is the effing common sense!
— Vandana Mahajan (@oceanblue11oct) April 15, 2021
India the only way to stop the spread is #MaskUpIndia , maintain SD, sanitise , #Vaccinate and use common sense! #COVID19 #Covidsecondwave
At IFORHER, we salute the coronawarriors who are suffering the brunt of us not taking precautions against Coronavirus. We hope after reading this painful conversation, people will stay at home, wear masks and take mandatory precautions to safeguard themselves against the COVID. That is the least that we could do for our coronawarriors, and their families!