Healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia are standing at the frontline to fight the new coronavirus (COVID-19 ). For the last three months, they have endured the task of confronting the horrific virus with determination and enthusiasm despite that it had devastated some healthcare workers who got infected while others have died during the battle.
Only a few days ago, the healthcare sector was afflicted by the passing away of nurse Nojoud al-Khubairi who died in the city of Madinah after contracting the virus. Before her, nurse Khaled al-Husseini had passed away in Mecca after getting infected with the virus that is threatening the angels of mercy fighting for the wellbeing of those ill. Doctors have also passed away while fighting this malignant pandemic.
Dr. Lamyaa al-Brahim, a family and quality consultant and opinion writer, clarified that healthcare workers of all categories are combating the virus fiercely, adding that: “Certainly healthcare workers are under severe and direct psychological pressure compared to others. Some preferred to stay away from their families and the Ministry of Health has provided them with housing so that they can stay away from their families and keep them safe”.
Al-Brahim told Asharq Al-Awsat that healthcare workers who are also mothers had to leave their children with their husbands or parents, while others had to keep their children with them as nurseries are currently closed. According to al-Brahim, this has worsened the family pressures they are under.
He also said he hopes that healthcare workers who die confronting the virus are treated as “martyrs of duty”, stressing that “it is an invisible war, and those who die during it are just like martyrs”.
On his part, Dr. Nizar Bahibri, internal medicine and infectious diseases consultant in Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital in Jeddah explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that despite the difficulty of the current time, it has proven the substantial efforts that healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia are making. Currently, Bahibri has focused more on creating educational videos to reassure people and raise their health awareness.
Asked about the chances of a healthcare worker contracting the virus while fighting COVID-19 as compared to others, Bahibri pointed out that the Ministry of Health is conducting a scientific research project that looks at confirmed cases, including healthcare workers, but its results have yet to be published.
Bahibri hinted at the possibility that the contagion is rising among healthcare workers, further confirming the massive burden that healthcare workers are currently shouldering.
