“Unsung heroes: Those who keep fighting when others retreat”, The Jakarata Post
Fistra Janrio Tandirerung, Opinion, March 19, 2020
Over the past few months, people`s energy, emotion and attention have been increasingly focused on the novel coronavirus outbreak, which is now officially a pandemic. However, since the first case of COVID-19 was documented in late December 2019, we have been too busy dealing with where the next infection will emerge, deaths connected to the virus, panic buying, news, the prospect of a lockdown and social distancing. Inevitably, we have neglected the crucial role played by health professionals.
The presence of health professionals is an important parameter and immense component to coping with large-scale epidemics, yet they are usually taken for granted.
Being on the frontline, health professionals are at high risk. As in this pandemic, despite possessing far more knowledge and skills than the layman, they are constantly exposed to infected individuals and the virus itself. Therefore, they are among the most vulnerable to getting infected.
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Reports have it that a nurse at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta died last week of COVID-19 infection after a contact with a patient who had tested positive for the virus. Neither the government nor the hospital management have confirmed the news.
In Denpasar, Bali, two nurses have been isolated after showing symptoms of COVID-19 infection. They previously had contact with Case 25, who died of the virus on March 11.
The health professionals however continue working, despite the many industries closing indefinitely, the increasing number of countries announcing limited or national lockdowns, and the offices, schools and universities switching to remote work and distance learning.
For health workers, pandemic or not, they should always be around to provide prime health care for those in need. This is why we take them for granted, even in times of a pandemic when their workloads and physical and psychological stress levels may become extremely exhausting and overwhelming.
Long before COVID-19 emerged, dealing with infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, dengue fever, typhoid and HIV/AIDS had been comparatively easy for Indonesia’s health workers. Their responsibilities also include handling catastrophic diseases that have caused far more deaths than COVID-19, such as heart disease, stroke and cancer.
They continue to perform their noble duty to save people`s lives, while risking their own. Therefore, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo`s appeal to Indonesian people to work, learn and worship at home does not apply to health professionals.
During this pandemic, the potentially excessive workload will make doctors, nurses and other health workers prone to chronic fatigue, which may result in dire health consequences, including death.
The physicians Mei Zhongming and Li Wenliang are recent examples of health professionals who died while devoting their lives to saving people from COVID-19 in Wuhan, the Chinese city where the infection was first detected. A young medical professional, Peng Yinhua, 29, who had reportedly planned to marry on Feb. 1, died after treatment for COVID-19.
The issues plaguing Indonesia’s health system, such as financing problems, overworked and underpaid health professionals, distrust of health workers and disparities in health service quality between urban and rural areas, will likely make the fight against COVID-19 tougher, especially in remote areas.
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The inability of health centers in Indonesia to independently perform definitive diagnostic procedures has been a major constraint, as definitive diagnosis can only be carried out at a limited number of centers around the country. Such a situation will result in delayed detection of new COVID-19 cases, which also means delayed patient management. Many hospitals in Indonesia also lack sufficient equipment and devices, especially ventilators to support COVID-19 patients experiencing respiratory failure. Officials in Tasikmalaya, West Java, confirmed that suspected patients were being transferred by health workers and others who only wore plastic rain coats instead of the standard personal protective equipment.
Despite the numerous challenges and constraints in the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, health professionals are still committed to their work. COVID-19 patients need their real care, which can never be delivered online or replaced with a long-distance approach, as is being adopted by schools.
Therefore, let`s show respect and honor these health workers, who are bravely risking their safety and their lives for others. They need continued support, so that they may perform their duties and serve better. Trust them and listen to their professional advice to ensure you stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government also needs to show appreciation and support by providing proper and sufficient equipment and devices to improve the performance of all our health workers. Their work hours should also be better regulated to help avoid the kind of exhaustion seen in other countries, which has led to even more victims of the pandemic.
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Physician at RSUD Lakipadada Tana Toraja General Hospital