Cleaners care in many ways
THE importance of hygiene and cleanliness during a pandemic is vital and even more so when you are dealing with vulnerable newborns and their mums.
Just one of the many heroes taking on this task in the maternity unit is Adriana Mroczkowska, and she says the job has taken on extra pressures since the start of the crisis.
“We’ve always had to keep the wards spotlessly clean, but now we have to be even more careful and it can be stressful at times,” says Adriana, who is originally from Poland, and has lived in Drogheda for 15 years.
“As a cleaner, you have to make sure everyone is safe, and we all look after much smaller spaces, but thankfully, the wards are much quieter now too because of fewer visitors.”
But fewer visitors for the new mums means they can get a bit lonely and that’s where Adriana and her team have been able to help.
“We’re under pressure but the mums haven’t got their family around them at such a happy time, and they want to show off their babies to us,” she says with a laugh.
“They can’t have their partners as much as normal, or parents and friends, so it’s nice that they have us to lean on if they are down, or feeling alone, and I like to think that we are helping if they are upset. It’s all part of the job to make them smile.”
Adriana says she is delighted to be part of such a great team and says she wants to say a huge thank you to everyone who is being so supportive during these trying times.