Thread by @30stades

A day in the life of a #COVID-19 #healthworker in India. A #Thread.

#indiafightscorona #healthwarriors

What does it mean to be a frontline warrior amid the #Coronavirus ( #COVID-19 ) pandemic? It means being away from home for weeks, staying awake for days and nights,

dealing with emotionally vulnerable patients and a sense of timelessness – when the clock ceases to exist and the patients’ recovery is all that matters.

Bharat Kumar Soni, a 27-year-old nurse at #NewDelhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, has to stay covered from head to toe in protective gear for 12 hours in the ICU, taking care of seriously ill patients. #PPEshortage #indiafightscoronavirus

He was on duty from March 20 to April 1 and is currently on a 14-day quarantine period. He shares his story with Mona Singh: 30stades.com/2020/04/06/cor…
#coronavirusindia #savethesaviour #StayHomeIndia

On March 19, when Prime Minister #NarendraModi implored people to observe #JanataCurfew on March 22, and asked people to clap for five minutes to show support towards all the #corona warriors,

I felt happy that our contribution would be acknowledged.
#Thalibajao #coronaviruslockdown

On March 22, I finished my duty and when I came out of the hospital, I saw people clapping and clanging thalis. I was overcome with emotion. My eyes filled with tears and I felt proud that the people in the country were supporting us and respecting us.

That day I felt I had chosen the right profession.
#Thalibajao #coronaviruslockdown

During my duty, I dealt with a couple of #coronavirus positive patients. Two of them were in the ICU, where I was put on duty. One was an elderly patient. She passed away some days back even though we tried our best to save her.
#StayHomeStaySafe #Indiafightscorona

The other lady was recovering but would be mostly irritable and did not talk much. She kept requesting us to let her meet her family but that was not possible. She kept to herself. We are accustomed to dealing with irritable patients.

We understand that they are suffering physically, and in a disease like #COVID-19, that suffering is compounded by the inability to meet your loved ones for days together.
#indiafightscorona

Initially, there was a shortage of #masks. But our institutions worked very hard to ease the situation and the supply improved over a period of time.
#PPEshortage #indiafightscoronavirus #Solidarity #StayHomeSaveLives

There are 2-3 staff in the ICU. We have a 12-hour shift and a busy schedule. We don’t have much free time. In the ICU the patient staff ratio is 1:1 so I had to take care of one patient and check on her on an hourly basis.
#Healthworkers #Indiafightscorona

My day begins with helping the patients get ready for the day, including their oral care. Their bed sheets and linen have to be changed daily. Then we would get them breakfast and later other meals.
#Healthworkers #Indiafightscorona #coronavirus #covid-19

There is the paperwork to be done, filling in the details of the patients, which is quite lengthy. When we are free, we sit at the nursing station and monitor patients from there.

No mobiles are allowed and we can’t talk through the protective gear, so it’s very lonely.
#Healthworkers #Indiafightscorona #coronavirus #covid-19

Minutes become hours and day merges into night as we work for the recovery of our patients. It is an emotional struggle for us also to remain cut off from the world – our friends and family – even on the phone.
#Healthworkers #Indiafightscorona #coronavirus #covid-19

During the lunch break, I have to remove the protective kit and then sanitise myself before having the lunch, which is provided by the hospital. Then I wear the kit again and go back to the ICU.

Though the Personal Protective Equipment ( #PPE ) kit is not heavy it is a little stifling. Also we can’t put on the air conditioner due to the fear of spread of infection.
#Healthworkers #Indiafightscorona #coronavirus #covid-19

The staff has to wear 2 layers of PPE for 12 hours in the ICU. So we wear the scrub suit, then a disposable gown over that and then the PPE kit. Then we wear a surgical mask and the N95 mask on it.

We wear one cap and put on the hood of the PPE kit. On our feet too we have to wear two layers of shoe covers.
#Healthworkers #Indiafightscorona #coronavirus #covid-19

It took a little while to adjust to the kit. Initially I used to feel suffocated wearing it and had some difficulty breathing. Even If I wanted to go out, I couldn’t because once you go in you can’t go out for the fear of spreading infection.

Also there is a shortage of PPE, so we try to minimise wastage by not stepping out.
#Healthworkers #Indiafightscorona #coronavirus #covid-19 #stayhomesavelives

Because of non-use of ACs and multiple layers of the protective gear, I would be drenched in sweat at the end of the duty.

I had to remove the entire kit in a separate room and dispose of it. Then I would take a shower and leave.
#Healthworkers #Indiafightscorona #coronavirus #covid-19

The hospital has made arrangements for the staff on COVID-19 patients to stay at the Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib (near Parliament House in New Delhi) as a quarantine measure. So I do not go to my accommodation in Patel Nagar
#Healthworkers #Indiafightscorona #coronavirus #covid-19

People at the gurdwara are very helpful and supportive. At a time when landlords are asking tenants, who are health workers, to leave or to vacate tenements temporarily, the gurdwara has been most welcoming. They look after us well.

I have one room and the food is provided by the gurdwara. I have made a ‘thank you’ video for the gurdwara staff to thank them for their hospitality.
#Healthworkers #Indiafightscorona #coronavirus #covid-19

I belong to Bhilwara in Rajashtan . My two older brothers and parents live there. My mother is a teacher in a government school and my father is an accountant.

We miss each other. They fear for my health but I chose this profession knowing fully well that it involves selfless service to others.
#Healthworkers #Indiafightscorona #coronavirus #covid-19

I speak to my family members daily. I tell them not to worry. I am working here but they are the ones who are tense there. If I even cough on the phone, they get worried.

So now if I cough I put the phone on mute.
#Healthworkers #Healthwarriors #Indiafightscorona #coronavirus #covid-19

I joined RML Hospital in December last year, but due to financial crunch, I am forced to take money from my family. I have no other option.
#Healthworkers #Healthwarriors #Indiafightscorona #coronavirus #covid-19

My parents have been very supportive. When the coronavirus broke out, parents of some colleagues asked them to quit their jobs and come back home.

But my parents never said that. They said since you have chosen this profession, give it your best.
#Healthworkers #Healthwarriors #Indiafightscorona #coronavirus #covid-19