By Utamu Belle
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has shifted the focus of the world. On the frontline, battling this virus, are a number of healthcare workers who are putting their lives at risk to ensure that we are all safe. They are working above and beyond the call of their duties without even complaining.
Among those frontline workers putting their lives at risk is young Dr Delleana Anderson- Boreggo Almaguer. The 27-year-old General Medical Practitioner and Government Medical Official has been attached to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) for almost a year and has now found herself on the medical frontline, battling in the fight against the COVID-19 global pandemic.
“It brings out the bravery inside of me also. Even though there are persons walking around or coming to the hospital who could have this deadly virus that can possibly infect me and I can lose my life depending on the extent of the infection. I am still willing to go there to face the virus and to help somebody who possibly may be suffering from it – to treat them, to give them the best care that they need,” she said.
When the virus first hit Guyana in March of this year, the doctor was working in the Surgical Department of the hospital after working in Paediatrics. Little did she know that the usual daily routine was about to change.
Dr Anderson-Boreggo Almaguer told the Sunday Times Magazine that joining the fight against the coronavirus at such an early stage in her career has changed her life as a medical practitioner in more ways than one. For one, she explained that it has challenged healthcare workers to practice more preventative forms of medicine.
“As a frontline worker, COVID-19 has impacted my life in so many ways. It made me as a health professional practice more of what I preach. Sometimes, we kind of overlook some of the things that we would tell patients to do. However, the coronavirus encourages me to basically be more alert and more health-conscious myself.
“Also, it has helped me to practice more preventative forms of medicine instead of a curative form because normally, especially here in Guyana or at the hospital, we usually just try to cure or treat whatever illness may present (itself). But with this coronavirus, it has actually helped doctors and frontline workers to promote preventative medicine, basically educating the population on some of the things that they can do to be healthy,” Dr Anderson-Boreggo Almaguer noted.
With the increase in the number of cases country-wide over the past few months, the doctor said she has now become more aware of how she carries out her duties and is determined to do so in a safer manner. She explained that she is more so aware that the virus can affect anyone at any time and no one is invincible – not even healthcare workers.
“You have at the back of your mind that this thing is real…first like how we used to be at work kind of carefree and taking risks, it kind of instils a certain amount of fear in you whereby it’s not like you’re afraid to do the work but you have that tingling behind your head that ‘I can get infected’…but in the same note, it kind of brings out the bravery inside of me,” she noted.
In her line of work, Dr Anderson-Boreggo Almaguer said, she encountered a patient who was considered a “possible case” before them being confirmed or cleared for having the virus. This experience, she noted did not affect her level of work ethic as a certain level of this is required as a healthcare professional, especially working amidst a global pandemic. In dealing with a potential case, she said the patient must be treated with the same level of care and respect as any other. The only difference, she explained, is that she ensures that she wears her correct personal protective equipment (PPE) to eliminate any possible risk of spread.
These days, she noted, a lot has changed with regards to her work environment. The usual intake of patients has decreased due to health and safety measures put in place to flatten the curve of the virus. This, the doctor noted, has also allowed healthcare professionals to manage some of their patients that would otherwise be taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital for treatment.
“Patients that we would normally take to Georgetown for further treatment, we had the opportunity of treating them right at the Linden Hospital Complex and that was amazing because a lot of times I feel as though we diagnose patients, we know what they’re to be treated with but we don’t get the chance to do it because we have, probably, limited resources or maybe it’s protocol for that patient to be managed in Georgetown,” she explained.
The usual operations within the Surgical Department have now changed to cater for emergencies only, the doctor cited.
Presently, Dr Anderson-Boreggo Almaguer is working in the Internal Medicine Department, which she described as being quite hectic. She works daily, but goes in to work from 8:00h when ‘on-call’ and leaves after midday the next day when on ‘post-call’. The changes as it relates to limited time for patients to visit the hospital, she indicated, has led to an influx of patients with diabetes-related illnesses and elderly patients with various illnesses. Nevertheless, she said the staff has been working around the clock.
“We have been working really hard to get things under control. The fact that we are very short of staff our ‘on calls’ are basically every 2 days, and sometimes 1 person would work the entire weekend just so the others can kind of rest and then we’d basically rotate. It has been hectic. I feel as though my stress level has gone up but I am smiling because it’s amazing how I can see somebody come to the hospital thinking that they’re going to die…and the feeling that I get when I tell them what it is…we’re going to help you,” this, she noted, is quite rewarding.
Dr Anderson-Boreggo Almaguer said her professional life has stepped up a notch owing to the pandemic; however, it has not had much impact on her social life.
“Healthcare professionals are one of the most essential workers in this time so if anything, I think work has stepped up its game. In terms of social life, certain things you cannot do – social gatherings and so many things, so it’s sort of quiet…however, I was not accustomed to being in crowds and going to all these social events so I don’t think the coronavirus changed my life or affected it in that way. For some reason, I feel as though the coronavirus was maybe a blessing in disguise because this, everyone was busy working. Being the person I am, I love family, I am very family-oriented, so the coronavirus made a lot of people be at home and gave me the opportunity to catch up with them whenever I have free time – while practising social distancing and good sanitisation,” she said.
With Guyana recording over 700 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, the doctor explained that it causes her to look at what more she can do to assist in terms of prevention and even research for a possible cure.
“I made a commitment to myself that whatever patient comes in contact with me I’m going to give them the best care…at least I can feel happy that how many I have seen were taken care of and they have the education they need to stop the spread of the virus. Mentally, I feel as though we’re going to get somewhere,” the young doctor said.
While she explained that there are challenges with a shortage of protective gears, she said the staff tries to prioritise usage. The doctor also pointed out challenges in trying to have professionals wear protective gears at all times and not practising protective measures correctly. Speaking from experience, she said setting the right example can impact others even with simple guidelines such as hand washing. As such, she advised other frontline workers to continue the good work and to set the right example in such a crucial time.
“I would like to encourage you to not give in to your fears. Do not run from this, it’s everywhere. Let’s continue the good work together and fight because if we give in to fear, the virus is going to take control, but the more we fight we will show it that together we are stronger,” she advised.
