Since the start of the pandemic, health workers have been working on the frontline saving lives daily. The work they do often exposes them to health care associated infections, stigma, psychological and emotional stress, illness and even death.
“In Lao People’s Democratic Republic, protecting healthcare workers have always been a priority for WHO and the Ministry of Health by ensuring that health care workers have access to personal protective equipment (PPE), received training on proper use of PPE and understand Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) measures that allowed them to carry out their tasks safely” said Dr. Jun Gao, WHO Officer-in-Charge.
While the number of health workers infected with COVID-19 has been declining globally since last year, it still accounts for about 8 per cent of positive cases. Health workers still experienced more than three times the risk of infection compared to that of the general population.
Two health care workers from the Ministry of Health who have recovered from COVID-19 shared their stories.
Deputy Chief of Nakhanthoung Health Center, Dr. Lhoi Chantala
Dr. Lhoi Chanthala is a medical doctor and deputy chief at Nakhanthoung Health Center, Xaythany District in Vientiane Capital. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, his main role was to manage the Maternal and Child Health Unit at the health center.
However, when caseload steadily increased in July this year with migrant workers returning from neighbouring countries, Dr. Chantala was reassigned by the Vientiane District Health Office to work at the Khoksivilay Secondary School (21 km) quarantine center, where he was responsible for checking the temperature of the returnees and bringing them food.
Dr. Chanthala back at work at the Nakhanthoung Health Center doing his routine tasks
“Back then, there were around 167 people being quarantined at the center, and the center is managed by a team of 3 healthcare workers, 3 police officers and 5 military staff” he explained. He was rotated twice for the assignment which covered a period of 14 days each time before a new team arrives.
“After completing my second 14 days assignment, we had to go through 14 days of quarantine and a COVID-19 test, and that is when I learned that two of us from the center have tested positive.” I was very surprised but accepted that it could happen in this line of work.
Dr. Chanthala shares his experience from Quarantine Center where he was infected with COVID-19
“I was fine both physically and mentally during the isolation period and had no symptoms. When I completed my quarantine, I was happy to return home. My family, friends and colleagues have been very supportive. They understand the situation well and were able to empathize with me.”
Deputy Chief of Ban Xai Health Center, Dr. Davone Dalavong
Dr. Dalavong is the Deputy Chief of Ban Xai Health Center , Xaythany District, Vientiane Capital. Like Dr. Chanthala, her job also focuses on Maternal and Child Health, although she was often assigned to support COVID-19 vaccination sites.
Dr. Davone Dalavong smilingly explains what she has been through when she got infected with COVID-19.
Dr. Dalavong said “It was my first time working at a quarantine center. I was assigned to hand out food to the returnees and to check their temperatures at KM27 Quarantine Facility.”
When she first found out that she had tested positive for COVID-19, she felt fine since she did not have any symptoms, but she was more worried about her family.
“When I informed them, they reacted kindly towards me, by offering to bring me food and they checked on me by calling me regularly. When I got discharged, my friend asked to meet up with them, but I preferred to be cautious and waited till I finished my home quarantine.”
Davone Dalavong (left) and Ms. Phengsavanh Vongpanya, Vientiane Capital Health Department’s health promotion officer at Dr. Dalavong’s house.
To stop transmission, we need to follow the public health and social measures like wearing of masks, physical distancing, washing hands regularly, practicing respiratory hygiene, ensuring adequate ventilation by keeping windows and doors open, and eating with only one other person are part of a do-it-all approach together with vaccination.
Getting vaccinated for Dr. Chanthala and Dr. Dalavong has helped to prevent serious illness and hospitalization. The health systems and facilities have also maintained a blame-free culture, and the psychosocial support they received from their families, colleagues and friends have helped them during their recovery.