Faced With Verbal Abuse, Heroic Healthcare Workers Continue Serving the Nation

CoVid-19, one of the most testing pandemics the world has ever witnessed. The ailment did not only shake our reality but has also challenged the norms of communication, business, and most importantly medical practices.

Faced with one of the fastest evolving diseases, minimal information, limited resources, and working in a third world country bombarded with constant abuse, the brave Pakistani frontline workers still continue to work around the clock helping the country continue its fight against CoVid-19.

Globally we have seen countless deaths yet citizens of various nations still celebrate and recognize the efforts of their healthcare workers. One fails to understand why Pakistanis turn a blind eye towards these challenges and instead opt for thrashing those same individuals who put their lives at stake to save theirs.

In a recent video, Dr. Nashwa Ahmed of South City Hospital, addresses the concerns of healthcare workers across Pakistan saying, “This last week and the last month has been so troublesome whilst we’re getting all this appreciation from the government – getting prioritized, getting vaccinated, we’re facing constant harassment on social media.”

“I recently came across a post in which some of our CoVid doctors were targeted. They were harassed, they were publicly crucified on social media. They were criticized for their clinical management, for their counseling, for their communication. Whilst it’s important to understand that the pandemic created an environment which is challenging for everyone.”

“It’s a huge challenge treating patients under huge protective gear, it’s a huge challenge communicating with families with constant rushes in ICUs, constant rushes in the wards. Patients being so sick, families being so worried, it’s a challenge to communicate with them effectively, properly, and repeatedly.”

“The healthcare system is so burdened. Each doctor is seeing so many patients…each nurse is overwhelmed. They’re here for endless hours. They’re sacrificing their families and they’re barely getting enough time to eat. With this, they’re dedicating maximum hours to patients and whatever is left, with the families of these patients.”

“Despite that, they’re constantly harassed on social media, that they’re not managing effectively, they’re not communicating effectively. There will be problems in everything, everything is being challenged. The norms of healthcare practices are being challenged. The norms of communication are being challenged. I find that it’s unfair to stand these people up and to humiliate them in front of the public.”

 

“We’re dealing with an unknown disease with unknown challenges, unknown treatments. Everything is a question mark. There are just so many issues that are left unanswered. With all these challenges and constantly being bombarded with abuse, with harassment. I find this is incredibly unfair. It’s incredibly painful for a doctor or a nurse to have put in all the love, the care, the attention, the man-hours, the sacrifice of their families and still be punished in such a horrific way.”

“It’s a shame. I wish this could end. The way the government is prioritizing us and putting us on the front line, I wish the public could finally see healthcare workers for what they are giving to the community. and how their families are sacrificing. Globally all healthcare workers are being paraded as warriors. Why not here? Why aren’t we being seen as giving a service to the community.”

“I understand that with CoVid, there is a death rate. There are people who unfortunately are not surviving. That is part of the disease. We do not have absolute control over the outcome of the disease. That’s not in our hands, it’s in the hands of God. New treatments are coming up every passing day, new researches are being released.”

“The medical community is also constantly engaged in a cycle of learning, providing their patients, with up-to-date treatment. This cycle is going to continue until we have a complete understanding of the disease. It’s too soon for any solid answer for anything. My only request to the public is, to stand on this side and see the challenges that we’re facing. The sacrifices that we’re giving. It’s very important.”

“We are giving our absolute 200% to make sure that the public is safe. The patients are getting the best up to date treatment recommended by guidelines. And we are doing our best to give maximum time to families whilst not sacrificing the time given to our patients.”

“So please, everyone I urge you to be patient, be understanding. Try to see from our end and understand what we are going through. I promise you; we’re giving our 1000% to the patients. You just have to trust us as your healthcare provider.”

An eye-opening perspective that one only hopes, the general public can and must understand. The world is being tested over and over again, how can people take for granted the most important and selfless profession that took on the difficult burden of treating patients even when equipped with limited equipment?



Get Alerts

Follow ProPakistani to get latest news and updates.


ProPakistani Community

Join the groups below to get latest news and updates.



>