Caregivers mourn the passing of colleague

Nurses across the island are distraught and saddened at the loss of one of their own who died from COVID-19 on Sunday.

President of the Barbados Nurses’ Association (BNA) Joannah Waterman, said her passing has impacted the nursing community deeply.

Waterman told the media that colleagues who worked with the nurse on the frontline described her as a professional who was dedicated to her job, worked hard and went above the call of duty to show care and concern for patients who had no relatives.

“She also extended that care and concern to her colleagues who described her as a very loving, caring person. Indeed, she will be greatly missed by the nursing community,” Waterman said.

The president added that distraught nurses who have been significantly impacted by the news, have cried out for crisis intervention and counselling to assist them with coping, as they continue to perform critical duties, delivering care.

She said that BNA, the management of the QEH and specialists, have organized an urgent crisis intervention session and counselling to assist nurses during this time.

During a COVID-19 press conference headlined by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley today, Barbados observed one minute of silence in memory of the fallen nurse.

Speaking during the event, the Chairman of the Government COVID-19 Sub Committee, Dr Jerome Walcott said regrettably, Barbados has experienced the passing of its first frontline worker, a reality that has been happening in other countries.

Dr Walcott said like the rest of the nation, the Government was grieved and concerned about her passing.

“We know the effects it can have on her colleagues and indeed those working on the frontline and indeed at our isolation centres and at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and at other facilities. With this in mind I want to express and extend our sincerest condolences to her family, to her friends, and indeed her several colleagues at the QEH. From all reports, she was indeed a dedicated and hard-working nurse,” Dr Walcott said.

Prime Minister Mottley also extended condolences to the nurse’s relatives and colleagues, and to all loved ones of those who have died here as a result of the virus.

The Pan American Health Organisation also extended condolences to Barbados, the family and the coworkers of the fallen healthcare worker.

Dr. Yitades Gebre, PAHO/WHO Representative to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries, also used the occasion to highlight that the safety and protection of health workers remains of paramount importance since they are the backbone of the health system.

He said: “PAHO’s primary concerns has been to ensure health workers have access to personal protective equipment (PPE). Lack of PPE or proper training on how to use it are some of the factors that are contributing to infections in health workers. We have been addressing this issue since the beginning of the pandemic.

“Other contributing factors that policymakers should address are reducing the workload and stress on health workers. They need psychosocial support in these trying circumstances. Communities can play their part by adopting behaviours that reduce disease spread so that healthcare systems, and as result health workers, are not burdened. We all have a role to play,” Dr. Gebre added. (anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)