By Tatenda Chimbwanda
To be a nurse and a midwife implies to be of service no matter the situations. Nurses and midwives in Zimbabwe are not just health workers, they are moms, sisters and leaders in their neighborhoods. In honor of nurses and midwives’ dedication to their profession WHO designated 2020 as the “International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife,” prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nurses and midwives continue to be on the cutting edge fighting COVID-19 day-to-day and offering important health services. This puts them at high threat of contracting communicable diseases consisting of COVID-19
In order to lower healthcare threat of infection during the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO in collaboration with Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Africa Centres of Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and Infection Control Association of Zimbabwe (ICAZ) carried out a two-day Integrated Contagious Prevention Control (IPC) and Case Management workshop in Mutare for healthcare workers from various provinces throughout Zimbabwe. The main objective of the training was to reinforce the capability of health institutions to respond and decrease the spread of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe.
Ever wondered what it feels like to be a nurse and midwife throughout the COVID-19 pandemic? Below are a couple of inspiring stories from health workers who received WHO led IPC/Case management training in Zimbabwe;
Margret “ the COVID-19 Master”
In 1985, she also trained as a signed up therapist for HIV/AIDs patients.
Margret has now achieved a third function due to COVID-19 She likewise supervises that her staff is sticking to all IPC associated Standard Operating Treatments (SOPs) when providing important health services.
Right After WHO’s integrated IPC/ case management training Margret right away trained her personnel on the new understanding she had actually obtained. “ I found out that hand hygiene is really crucial in preventing the spread of infections in the maternity ward,” said Margret.
As an outcome of the info she got during the training, Margret has actually included additional hand cleaning centers in the maternity ward. She has also made it mandatory for her personnel to guarantee patients are regularly washing their hands in all the health center wards, including conducting useful lessons on the right hand health method to follow when cleaning hands.
Margret continues to encourage her staff to share info on the very best IPC measures with clients as they provide vital health services.
The training was exceptionally eye opening for Margret who stated, “ l learnt that you can not use the exact same mask the whole day. It in fact increases your chances of infecting yourself”
The former, is something Margret was not aware of.
Margret is now mindful of how the IPC measures she adheres to at the health center must continue at home.
” If I get ill, I will put a lot of other people at danger, including my staff, family and client’s I attend. For that reason, I remain guided by WHO’s IPC standards on task and off duty,” included Margret.
One of the useful examples which stuck to Margret from the workshop was how easy actions can protect her from being contaminated.” When I approach the road obstructs these days, I no longer turn over my license to the police. I hold it myself and provide it to them to prevent contact,” discusses Margret.
Although Margret and her staff are not taking care of any COVID-19 favorable patients, her personnel’s exposure to the infection has not reduced. Margret constantly emphasizes the significance of dealing with everyone in the healthcare facility like they are infected.
In addition, a number of mothers have actually checked COVID-19 favorable in her maternity ward. While in the maternity ward, she looks after them before they are transferred to the referral hospital, Wilkins Contagious Illness Hospital in Harare with capability to confess moderate to serve COVID-19 cases.
“ This implies my personnel and myself are at fantastic danger of contracting COVID-19, as much as those caring for COVID-19 patients at Wilkins Health center,” included Margret.
Being a nurse throughout COVID-19, has actually been the scariest period of Margret’s career.”
I always make sure the moms comprehend COVID-19 is not a death sentence and keep them encouraged,” she says.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed Margret’s personal life. 3 of her close relatives have died and she was unable to attend their funerals due to COVID-19
“ When I remain in town running my personal errands, I always go through my local saloon and educate the women who will be getting their hair done on the very best IPC measures to protect themselves from COVID-19 For instance, I always stress on the significance of wearing a mask in public, preserving social distance together with washing hands,” states Margret.
Margret is a well-known nurse in her neighborhood and has actually now gotten a new nickname “ the COVID-19 Master”. Margret embodies her label and does incline as she believes it’s her role to educate individuals in her community.
Margret stays a nurse on and off responsibility, as she stays 30 km away from the medical facility in a farming community. Because of the range to the medical facility from her neighborhood, Margret has actually become the go to person when anybody falls ill.
“ When I get home from work, I know I will have close to 8 people visit my home a week seeking health recommendations. Others even come at odd hours in the night, in many cases I wind up driving them to the hospital since I made a vow to serve my community“.
Motivation brought back
Mary Tangirai, is a midwife at Zimbabwe’s biggest general hospital Parirenyatwa. She has actually also taken control of the role of IPC lead of COVID-19 prescreening in the hospital’s green zone. For Mary, being a nurse during COVID-19 has been mentally and physically tiring.
This is because, Harare is the center of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe with the highest variety of COVID-19 cases, currently at 2555 as of 3 September. Bulk of the COVID-19 cases are described Parirenyatwa Health center including patients from beyond Harare.
Parirenyatwa Healthcare facility is among the few healthcare facilities in Zimbabwe with the capability to admit moderate to serve COVID-19 cases.
“ WHO’s IPC training increased my understanding and inspiration to work.
Mary reveals how it has been scary being a nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic. She used to stick with her 17- year-old daughter at Parirenyatwa, but due to her brand-new role, she has had to send her child off to her older sibling’s location in order to reduce her risk of infection.
“ The knowledge I received from trainings such as the WHO led one I recently attended and God are the two things which have actually kept me going throughout these challenging times,” says Mary.
Because of the training, Mary now feels much more positive to continue performing her tasks.
The training likewise seized the day to go over the SOPs for COVID-19 Medical Facility Management which Parirenyatwa has actually been using assisted by WHO recommendations. The SOP describes the following; Requirement Measures, PPE and their levels, Management of a thought COVID-19 Patient in the Green Zone, Environmental Cleansing and disinfection, Linen management, Waste management, Management of a presumed or favorable COVID-19 dead body and Meaning of contact and management of staff contacts.
Chitungwiza Central Medical Facility
Evelyn is constantly reminded of the year 2008 when she became a nurse and how helping moms deliver is one of the most satisfying experiences. This is what keeps her going and thoughtful for humankind throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
As burnt out as she might be, Evelyn can not pay for to take time off due to the fact that she is the sibling in charge at Chitungwiza Central Medical Facility. The absence of staff has not made the situation any much easier for her. As the sister in charge, Evelyn has actually been working round the clock. “ On some days’ I can manage four baby deliveries on my own at the same time. It worries me as I seem like sometimes I do not give the moms the needed attention as I will be overwhelmed,” states Evelyn.
The recent training l carried out focused on donning and doffing useful lessons, following WHO’s standards,” explains Evelyn.
She has actually likewise taken the lead in making sure the hospital has running water as hand hygiene remains incredibly crucial in ensuring health care employees’ security and that of their patients.
She educates the patients on the safety measures that can prevent the spread of COVID-19 to other individuals in your house. These include how the ill individual should stay in a separate space; if this is not possible, then keep at least a 1-metre range from their household members. Safety measures also consist of how to self-care in the house.
Since of the WHO training, Evelyn is assertive enough to lead her team on IPC and also supply guidance to COVID-19 patients.
The WHO training and SOPs Evelyn, Margret and Mary including their coworkers follow day-to-day and all the medical facilities in Zimbabwe are following were established by the Ministry of Health and Childcare (MoHCC) led IPC pillar, which falls under pillar number 6 of Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 Operational Strategy. The primary objective of the IPC pillar is to restrict the transmission of COVID-19 in communities and health facilities by adherence to IPC standards and procedures.
“ As WHO we continue to support capability structure of health institutions to respond to and decrease the spread of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe. We are really grateful to UkAid/DIFID whose generous financing support has permitted WHO, MoHCC and Africa CDC carry out IPC capacity structure for healthcare workers across the country,” says Zvanaka Sithole – WHO Zimbabwe National Specialist Officer and COVID 19 IPC focal person.
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