To be a nurse and a midwife means to be of service no matter the circumstances. Nurses and midwives in Zimbabwe are not just health workers, they are mothers, sisters and leaders in their communities. In honor of nurses and midwives’ commitment to their profession WHO designated 2020 as the “International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife,” prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nurses and midwives continue to be on the front line fighting COVID-19 daily and providing essential health services. This puts them at high risk of contracting communicable diseases including COVID-19.
In order to reduce health care risk of infection during the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO in partnership with Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Africa Centres of Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and Infection Control Association of Zimbabwe (ICAZ) conducted a two-day Integrated Infectious Prevention Control (IPC) and Case Management workshop in Mutare for health care workers from different provinces across Zimbabwe. The main objective of the training was to strengthen the capacity of health institutions to respond and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe.
Ever wondered what it feels like to be a nurse and midwife during the COVID-19 pandemic? Below are a few inspiring stories from health workers who received WHO led IPC/Case management training in Zimbabwe;
Margret “the COVID-19 Master”
Margret Gwanzura is a mother of four, grandmother of five, a pastor, a business woman, counselor and most importantly a dedicated midwife at Marondera General Hospital. She began her career 30 years ago in 1981 at Mutare Hospital. In 1985, she also trained as a registered counselor for HIV/AIDs patients. To date she has provided counselling for more than 85 patients.
Margret is in charge of the maternity ward and continues to provide care for pregnant mothers and new born babies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Margret has now attained a third role due to COVID-19. She is responsible for leading the maternity ward IPC measures implementation. She also oversees that her staff is adhering to all IPC related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) when delivering essential health services. The SOPs are guided by WHO recommendations and outlines procedures to follow such as how to put on appropriate Protective Personal Equipment (PPE) when delivering a baby.
Soon after WHO’s integrated IPC/ case management training Margret immediately trained her staff on the new knowledge she had acquired. “I learnt that hand hygiene is very important in preventing the spread of infections in the maternity ward,” said Margret.
As a result of the information she received during the training, Margret has added additional hand washing facilities in the maternity ward. She has also made it compulsory for her staff to ensure patients are regularly washing their hands in all the hospital wards, including conducting practical lessons on the correct hand hygiene technique to follow when washing hands.
Margret continues to encourage her staff to share information on the best IPC measures with patients as they deliver essential health services.
The training was extremely eye opening for Margret who said, “l learnt that you cannot wear the same mask the whole day. It actually increases your chances of infecting yourself.”
The former, is something Margret was not aware of. With the shortages of PPE in Zimbabwe, her staff used to wear the same masks every day. This is a practice she had to immediately ban as soon as she got back from the training.
Margret is now aware of how the IPC measures she adheres to at the hospital should continue at home as well.
“If I get sick, I will put so many other people at risk, including my staff, family and patient’s I attend. Therefore, I remain guided by WHO’s IPC guidelines on duty and off duty,” added Margret.
One of the practical examples which stuck with Margret from the workshop was how simple actions can protect her from being infected. “When I approach the road blocks these days, I no longer hand over my license to the police. I hold it myself and present it to them to avoid contact,” explains Margret.
Although Margret and her staff are not looking after any COVID-19 positive patients, her staff’s exposure to the virus has not decreased. Margret always emphasizes the importance of treating everyone in the hospital like they are infected.
In addition, a number of mothers have tested COVID-19 positive in her maternity ward. While in the maternity ward, she takes care of them before they are transferred to the referral hospital, Wilkins Infectious Disease Hospital in Harare with capacity to admit moderate to serve COVID-19 cases.
“This means my staff and myself are at great risk of contracting COVID-19, as much as those looking after COVID-19 patients at Wilkins Hospital,” added Margret.
Being a nurse during COVID-19, has been the scariest period of Margret’s career. The lack of PPE does not make matters easy for her. However, Margret remains resolute and says: “We just need to keep going during these hard times and l believe we will overcome and make do with the limited resources we have.”
The mothers who test COVID-19 positive are extremely anxious and nervous. “I am glad that I have experience in counselling. I always ensure the mothers understand COVID-19 is not a death sentence and keep them encouraged,” she says.
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed Margret’s personal life as well. She had to close the small shop she owned which sold wedding accessories. Three of her close relatives have died and she was unable to attend their funerals due to COVID-19. In order to protect her five grandchildren, she stays with, she has taught them not to come in contact with her when she comes back from work. Margret’s husband is also a nurse and they have developed a new routine “We wash our hands first, remove our clothes before we come in to contact with anyone in the house.
