Hopefully, We Are Not Mentally Ill

Despite facing a high risk of being infected by the coronavirus, health workers continued their routines, serving the Covid-19 patients. Without any delay, they who had recovered from Covid-19 rushed back to work.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Medical personnel who treat patients who are being treated temporarily in emergency care tents in the yard of the Cibinong Regional General Hospital, Cibinong, Bogor City, West Java, because the wards and Emergency Installation are full, Thursday (24/6/2021).

The war against Covid-19 has not yet ended. There is no a picture that can describe the current situation appropriately, especially the mental condition of health workers. Hundreds of health workers died on duty in the midst of the pros and cons of the implementation of social restrictions.

Mixed feelings were expressed by First Admiral IDG Nalendra Djaya Iswara, who is in charge of a field hospital run by the Joint Regional Defense Command 2 in Surabaya on Wednesday (30/6/2021). He was relieved that the result of his PCR swab test was negative but he was sad because 22 medical workers at the field hospital tested positive for Covid-19. "Please pray and give support and attention so that we can maintain our works though the condition is quite difficult," he said.

Of the 22 medical workers who contracted the coronavirus, five are general practitioners and three specialists, while the other 14 medical workers consist of nurses and employees working in a pharmacy and administrative, hygiene and security departments.

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With the remaining health workers and volunteers, the field hospital which is located in the Dr Adhyatma MPH Health Museum complex is still operating. It is currently treating 360 Covid-19 patients. They consist of migrant workers (35), patients from the Madura Island cluster (8), and independent patients (317).

It is called the Madura cluster because patients were netted during testing and tracing on the island. In addition, of the 317 independent patients, 188 also come from Madura Island.

Several health workers who were exposed to the coronavirus had been assigned to conduct testing on residents in Bangkalan following the spike in new Covid-19 cases in the city in June. They conducted testing, tracing and treatment amid the discovery of the Covid B.1.167.2 Delta variant , which is twice as contagious and causes more severe illness.

ARSIP RSD GUNUNG JATI

Officers held a funeral prayer for Covid-19 patients at Gunung Jati Hospital, Cirebon City, West Java, some time ago.

Despite facing a high risk of being infected by the coronavirus, health workers continued their routines, serving the Covid-19 patients. Without any delay, the health workers who had recovered from Covid-19 rushed back to work.

"The recovery period for Covid-19 patients should be at least two weeks. However, I have to go to work earlier to reduce the work load of my co-workers,” said Nurbaeti (45), who works as a nurse at the infection control department at the Arjawinangun Hospital, Cirebon Regency, West Java. She took several deep breaths while speaking. She had a cold sweat when climbing the stairs at the hospital.

Nurbaeti tested positive for Covid-19 on June 9, 2021, four days after her child was infected with the virus. Previously, she divided her time between taking care of children and doing her works at the hospital.

She admitted that she contracted the virus so that contact tracing could be taken. However, it received a negative response from neighbors. "When my family members pass by, people close the door and enter their houses," said the mother of three. She and his son chose to be treated at the Arjawinangun Hospital. Moreover, she suffered shortness of breath and coughed and felt so weak even though she had been vaccinated.

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Like ‘arisan’

After eight days of treatment, Nurbaeti tested negative on Thursday (17/6). Three days later, she was on duty again. She was really sad that many of her colleagues had been exposed to Covid-19.

"There have been 72 people (infected). Previously there were only five, six, at most 10 health workers were infected here every month. Being hit by Covid-19 is like getting arisan (a lottery), we are waiting for our turn," said Nurbaeti, who had to work until nine in the evening to compile reports of the people infected with the coronavirus.

Even though many health workers, , including senior nurses, died due to Covid-19, she was not afraid. But she was quite stern in reminding her colleagues to wear masks and to avoid eating together.

Until the beginning of the week, the occupancy rate of the isolation rooms in 12 hospitals in Cirebon , with a total of 574 beds, reached 84.7 percent . Patients were waiting in line at emergency rooms. “We hope that the local government will recruit more health workers. We are also in trouble because a lot of our claims for the treatment of Covid-19 patients have not been paid," said the director of the Arjawinangun Hospital, Bambang Sumardi.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Medical personnel assist patients in an emergency tent in front of the emergency room at the Chasbullah Abdulmadjid Regional General Hospital (RSUD), Bekasi City, West Java, Wednesday (23/6/2021).

Despite such problems, health services were not affected including those in hospitals in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. In the intensive care unit (ICU), doctors and nurses must be patient in treating the patients, who had to queue up to be admitted to the ICU.

"About 20 of our nurses were exposed to Covid-19. By deploying nurses who handle general patients, we can add more rooms and beds for isolation and in the ICU," said the director of the Balikpapan hospital, Edy Iskandar.

Nightmare

Health workers in Bandung city were also under a similar work pressure. Ina (28), a health worker at a community health center (puskesmas ) couldn\'t sleep well for several weeks.

The workload became a nightmare. She dreamed of receiving Covid-19 patients and looking for them but no rooms were available for them. She then woke up wearily.

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Ina felt stuck and confused. She ran out of time for her family because of her duties. “If you see a child, I suddenly feel sad. Many of my co-workers were also exposed to the virus. Hopefully we will not suffer mental illness, “she said. Many people have suffered a mental disorder due to their failure to cope with the situation. (BRO/ETA/IKI/CIP/RTG)

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.