Frontline nurse: Everyone is a COVID-19 suspect

 

Jude Lutwama, a health care assistant at one of the hospitals in the UK, says had citizens there heeded the World Health Organisation call for social distancing, the COVID-19 repurcussions would nto have been as bad.

 

"People did not change their lifestyle despite advice from the World Health Organisation and the public health authorities in England," Lutwama says in a write-uphe sent to New Vision.

 

He adds that health workers do not have enough personal pretective equipment.

Lutwama says to stay safe, Ugandans should treat everyone as a suspected patient or carrier of COVID-19 and, therefore, keep a distance.

 

"The government took longer than expected to implement a lockdown and close shops. Up to now, major UK airports are still open to flights from the high risk countries such as Italy, Spain, China and so many other countries. This is not helping the situation," Lutwama adds.

 

The UK has 41,903 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 4,313 deaths and 3,735 new cases.

 

 

My name is Joe Jude Lutwama, I work for the National Health services (NHS) In Northamptonshire (East midlands), United Kingdom. For confidentiality reasons I will not mention the exact name of my employers. 

I work as a student nurse and also as a health care assistant. My role involves direct contact with patients, including providing personal care and vital observations.

 

I am currently working directly with the COVID-19 patients who have been put in different wards at the hospital. At the moment, as a nurse or care assistant, one does not necessarily work in the ward where you are employed to work. 

 

You can work anywhere in the hospital wherever need arises. In the last two weeks, I have been moved and asked to work in Intensive care unit (ICU) and Accident and Emergency (A&E). 

 

The ICU has COVID-19 patients while A&E has suspected patients. So, as a worker, you have to protect yourself at all times especially when you are in contact with these people because everyone is a suspect until tested.

 

Unfortunately, most of the hospitals across the UK have not been provided with sufficient personal protective equipment (PPEs) that is used when you are in direct contact with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients. 

 

This has been a big challenge to all of us as frontline workers. 

 

Some of my colleagues have walked out because they cannot put themselves and their families at unnecessary risks. The issue of PPEs has been raised and authorities are still working on it. 

 

As workers, we now report to work in our normal clothes and change to uniforms when we get to work so that we don't take the virus with us back home on clothes.

 

Personally, I have reduced the personal contact with my children and wife. 

 

We have moved bedrooms and I sleep in my own bedroom, I cannot cuddle my little ones as I used to while my work clothes are kept separately. 

 

This is very challenging, having three children all under eight, this age is so cuddly and they are used to kisses and perks.

 

It is painful but the right thing to do to protect them. It might not be enough but it is helping.

 

Looking at the spread of COVID-19, many people here took it as a non-issue when it was first reported in China. No one knew the extent of the problem until it got home (UK). 

 

Even when it got to the UK, people did not change their lifestyle despite advice from the World Health Organisation and the public health authorities in England.

 

Keeping social distance was completely ignored, may be because of the Western world attitude. It is a free world and people do what they want…they have their rights. 

 

The government took longer than expected to implement a lockdown and close shops. Up to now, major UK airports are still open to flights from the high risk countries such as Italy, Spain, China and so many other countries. This is not helping the situation. 

 

More so, there is no sufficient testing of frontline staff like nurses, doctors and paramedics. These people could be carriers, hence infecting those most vulnerable.

 

Every other day in the UK they mention the death toll or figures. However, no one is mentioning success stories or people who have recovered. 

 

I personally know individuals or friends who have been through it, how painful it was and now they have recovered or are on the road to recovery. 

 

People can get better and symptoms can be treated.

 

The measure that seems to be working now is social distancing because it has been implemented everywhere, especially supermarkets which are notorious for spreading the virus. 

 

Visitors have been banned from accessing hospitals. These have been bringing the virus to patients or picking it from them unknowingly.

 

However, I would like to remind people unless we work together and listen to health experts' advice, everyone might get infected.

 

It is very important to wear a mask when you are going out shopping or even at your house. In my personal opinion, as long as you cover your mouth and nose, this will stop the spread. 

 

If the mouth is covered, it will hinder droplets from your mouth or nose - when you cough or sneeze - from dropping onto the surfaces where they last longer than six hours and other people may pick them. 

 

This has been effective in some countries where the spread of the virus is low. In this case, home-made masks will help. 

 

Unfortunately, these home-made masks will not be effective in protecting you from the virus but you will have done your job of protecting the public.

 

I would like to advise fellow Ugandans in Uganda, politics aside, let us obey the instructions from the government, keep social distance because the country does not have enough testing kits for the virus.

 

Everyone is a suspect until tested and found negative. 

 

In addition to that, keep your mouth and nose covered. Please avoid contaminating public spaces and if you have been out in public, wash hands regularly with soap and do not touch your family members before you do that. 

 

Isolate yourself and use our local remedies for flu symptoms when you get the symptoms. Ensure boosting your immunity system with different things, especially vitamin C. if you can, seek medical advice.

 

STAY SAFE AND STAY HOME.......

 

Joe Jude Lutwama