The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely taken the Sultanate by storm as well as affected the lives of many. In times like these, healthcare frontliners are essential to change the landscape. Doctors, nurses, paramedics, laboratory specialists, virologists, molecular biologists & surveillance team are working 24-hour shifts in overcrowded hospitals and laboratories to ensure every patient is given prime attention for a speedy recovery. From testing to medical care to providing precautionary measures, all healthcare frontliners are well equipped with sufficient supply to protect the patients.
While the public has been urged to self-quarantine and socially isolate to avoid chances of encountering with someone or something carrying COVID-19, health care professionals are willingly exposing themselves to the pandemic every day.
We spoke with a doctor at a prominent hospital in Muscat and with a medical services lab personnel to know more about their roles in the fast spreading pandemic. These healthcare frontliners definitely wear the superhero capes during these difiicult times.
Rapid testing for patients as well as healthcare workers is both very crucial and necessary for keeping them safe. In order to keep the testings intact, the burden on lab professionals and healthcare workers have increased.
Al Ward Medical Services, Genetics Laboratory is one such laboratory that has been on the forefront of this challenging situation carrying out the necessary tests to confirm the virus in samples collected.
“Our role involves testing the patient’s samples (Specimen types: nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, nasal and mid-turbinate nasal swabs, nasopharyngeal aspirate and bronchoalveolar lavage) using highly sensitive real-time PCR technology, identifying the presence of the virus and reporting them to respective hospitals and MOH Surveillance team,” says Soumya Ranjan Kabi, M.Sc, Business Development Manager of Al Ward Medical Services, Genetics Laboratory.
“Our team of professionals’ work additional hours every day to ensure the tests are completed in time. We also receive calls during mid-night from hospitals when new patient samples are sent for immediate testing for some critical cases,”
Patients remain isolated in respective homes or hospitals during the tests. Once the samples are collected and sent for testing, the test results are expected within 1-3 working days. About 200 to 300 tests are being performed daily by Al Ward’s team as of today which will be scaling up with time. While it is important that the results are known as soon as possible, so patients receive the necessary precautions and guidelines by Ministry of Health if tested positive, it is also crucial that the healthcare workers are working cautiously with protection at all times.
“Our employees at the laboratory (specialists and lab assistants) have been vaccinated for Flu, Hep. B, MMR, Varicella and Meningococcal as per MOH policies and are also tested every 14 days. With careful handling of the samples and sincere dedication, we are making sure to create a no-harm environment. At Al Ward, the safety and health of our employees and patients remain our top priority during this unprecedented time. We urge employees and the people at homes to stay calm and positive during the screenings and maintain social distancing as much as possible to avoid any form of contact.”adds Soumya.
Healthcare frontliners are daily making tough calls when they are moving between the clinics with COVID-19 positive patients and their homes wherein their family may otherwise not be exposed to the virus. The safety measures of the workers solely depend on extreme hygiene.
However Dr. Sonali Kodange, Anaesthesiologist and Intensivist working at a hospital in Muscat says with a positive note, “If a patient has symptoms of breathlessness and requires intensive care, our hospitals are well equipped to provide the advanced care so be assured of the quick recovery.”
“The lockdown has reduced transmission of the virus from person-to-person and we must all continue safe practices even after the lockdown to reduce the chances of the virus to spread.”
“Build up your health with a nutritious diet, build up your mind with prayers and meditation, build up relations with family using online platforms,” concludes Dr. Sonali.