PPE shortage back in focus as four nurses test positive
NEW DELHI: Four nurses from the Delhi State Cancer Institute tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Sunday, taking the total number of health care workers — doctors, nurses, sanitation staff — who have been infected in the city to 24.
The spate of infections brings into focus the risks frontline workers face and the need for them to be adequately equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE), stocks of which are believed to be in short supply.
At least three doctors in the national capital are suspected to have been infected by their patients while for several others – such as the two doctors and six nurses from Delhi State Cancer Institute and a resident doctor from AIIMS — the source of infection is unclear.
Experts link the infections to the lack of proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
“These health workers are in high contamination zone and without protective gear, the possibility of getting the disease is much more, even if they are wearing masks and gloves. One has to even remove safety kits in sanitised zones. I don’t know how many of the hospitals in smaller districts have these zones,” said Dr KK Aggarwal, former head of the Indian Medical Association
Around 108 staff members from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital had to be quarantined after coming in contact with two Covid-19 cases. Similarly, around 81 people from Maharaja Agrasen Hospital were quarantined after two patients tested positive.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Reeja Vishnu, a nurse, was given an option of opting out of serving at high-pressure coronavirus (Covid-19) ward of Kalamassery Medical College Hospital in Kerala’s Ernakulam since she has a twoyear-old daughter to take care of. But she declined the offer saying she would not do so when her services are needed the most.
Many frontline health workers like her are volunteering to combat the pandemic that apart from carrying the risk for them of contracting the disease also involves following detailed protocols, wearing heavy personal protection equipment (PPE) and living restricted lives.
“I have stopped breast-feeding my 2-year-old daughter. Initially, I had some problems but once I wear my PPE, I forget all my worries,” said Vishnu, 28.
“We have many diligent workers like her and they all rise to the occasion. In Ernakulam medical college hospital we have 24 patients in isolation wards,” said district medical officer Dr N K Kuttappan.
Reshma Mohandas, a nurse at the Kottayam Medical College Hospital, who contracted the disease while looking after Thomas Abraham, 93, and his wife, Mariyamma, 84, has sought permission to return to work after the end of her 14-day mandatory quarantine at home. She was discharged after recovering along with the elderly couple on Friday.
“She is a committed worker. People like her nursed back the aged patients. We will take a call on her request at an appropriate time,” said hospital superintendent Dr T K Jayakumar.
Mohandas,30, recalled that the aged couple, which contracted the disease after some of their family members returned from
MANY HOSPITALS IN
KERALA, WHICH REPORTED THE FIRST COVID-19 CASE IN THE COUNTRY IN JANUARY, HAVE ARRANGED ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THEIR STAFFERS
Italy last month, were like small kids and were treated like that. “At times, they were stubborn and cranky. We had to pat and prod them quite often,” she said.
Mohandas, was isolated when she developed fever four days after the couple was admitted to the hospital.
Taking care of Covid-19 patients is a challenging job for frontline health workers like Vishnu and Mohandas. They say a person in PPE cannot work more than four hours, which often feels like 40. Wearing and removing PPE alone takes more than one hour. Another hour is usually spent on following the post-duty protocols.
“We need another person’s help. First, we wear shoes and put on the PPE overalls. Then we cover our heads and wear masks and goggles. At times, we have to wear two or three layers of masks and then put on gloves. Since we cannot go to washrooms after putting on PPE, we usually avoid water,” a nurse said on condition of anonymity.
Many hospitals in Kerala, which is among the worst-hit states with 306 cases and reported the first Covid-19 case in the country in January, have arranged accommodations for their staffers treating Covid-19 patients.
Nurses in Kerala say Lini Puthussery, a 28-year-old nurse who died fighting the Nipah virus outbreak in north Kerala in 2018, is their inspiration.