Noman Mosharef :
A question is raised for health workers like nurses that their safety in Bangladesh is neglected and that is why so far 520 nurses have been infected with the COVID-19, according to data issued by the Society for Nurses’ Safety and Rights, a local body fighting for the rights.
Like in other countries, while nurses in Bangladesh have also emerged as frontline combatants to fight the coronavirus or the COVID-19 pandemic, experts believe their small numbers are hindering the country’s health system.
The organization further said, more than one thousand nurses are providing treatment the patients in nine specialized Covid-19 hospital in the capital.
A senior staff nurse working at Mugda General Hospital, one of specialized hospital for Covid-19 treatment anonymously said that till Tuesday 25 staff of her hospital have been infected with the coronavirus.
She said that the government has supplied two sets of safety gear called personal protective equipment or PPE to each of them, including some face masks.
Referring to frequent reports in mainstream and social media about the low quality of PPEs and masks, she said that she lives in fear of contracting the virus and thinks about its disastrous consequences on her family. She has two kids, one of them is three years old.
“We must serve people whatever risks may arise. But my earnest request to the government is to ensure the quality of all protective medical equipment distributed amongst us,” she said.
She further said, due to the pandemic, the work hours have been increased to 12 hours.
“After 12 hours with patients I have little energy left to take care of my children,” she added.
According to data issued by the Society for Nurses’ Safety and Rights, a local body fighting for the rights, 73,000 nurses are registered in Bangladesh. Out of them, 50,000 are working in government and non-government health services.
“After the first infection of a nurse with the coronavirus it was reported in Bangladesh on March 21, the government directed us to stay isolated from our family members. Now we work seven days without a break and then stay in institutional quarantine for the next 14 days,” said Sabbir Mahmud Tihan, General Secretary of the rights group.
A survey result of the organization done last month found that 86 percent of nurses did not have access to adequate personal safety equipment.
He said this direction applies to all government and non-government health centers including clinics and hospitals.
“But it could not be implemented properly in some parts of the country due to a lack of facilities and a manpower crisis. We have to randomly work now beyond the roster, staying away from our families for weeks.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) data, the country has only 3.06 nurses to provide services to every 10,000 population.
While nearly 50 pc of the global health workforce reportedly constitutes nurses and midwives, their number is even lesser than doctors in Bangladesh, with just 50,000 of them serving a population of 165 million.
Sabbir Mahmud urged the government to recruit more nurses with more facilities, as just 50,000 nurses were not enough for the country.
The government has recently decided to recruit at least 5,000 nurses along with 2,000 doctors on an emergency basis to fight the pandemic.
Dr. Ayesha Akhter, an assistant director at Health Ministry, said the government has already appointed the recommended medical staff.
“We have already finalized their posting places, and by May 13, all of them will join their duties,” said Akhter.
