Bengaluru: In a huge blow to the state in its battle against the pandemic, at least 200 nurses have contracted the novel coronavirus, the Karnataka State Trained Nurses Association said. It said three died due to the infection, although only two were tested posthumously. However, all three worked in Covid-19 facilities and had developed complications.
A 55-year-old woman nurse from Santosh Hospital in Bengaluru, who died recently, was treated as a Covid-19 patient, while a 42-yearold male nurse from Bidar, died of acute breathlessness, but no posthumous swab test was conducted.
Another male nurse, a 57-year-old from KC General Hospital, Bengaluru, died in his hometown Chitradurga a week ago. He had tested negative three days prior to his death, but developed acute breathlessness and severe acute respiratory infection before dying. None of the bereaved families have got any compensation from the government so far.
Twenty nurses of a private hospital in Jayanagar have tested positive so far, while 20 of the 60 healthcare staffers who have tested positive at Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research are nurses. The association has asked the government to provide data of nurses infected.
“The service of nurses is yet to be recognized,” the association said. “Fearing infection, nurses are not turning up for work. The need is to boost their morale and provide them with all the safety equipment possible.”
The association has written to the CM seeking extension of the PM’s Covid Relief Fund (for families of deceased frontline workers) to nurses in the private sector too.
The nurse to patient ratio is skewed with each nurse caring for 40-50 patients. “Ideally, for Covid-19 work, the ratio should not exceed 1:10. But we are also filling in for our colleagues who are on leave,” said a nurse. And then, there is the stigma. “We who treat Covid-19 are not welcome at home. If we are infected, we have to go back to the ward as patients. This leads to stress, anxiety, sense of hopelessness,” a nurse said.
Besides being overworked, nurses also say they are grossly underpaid since the package offered at the time of recruitment is way lower compared to other states.
“Recently, Andhra Pradesh offered Rs 34,000 as month salary for nurses,” said Dr Girijamba Devi, general secretary, Trained Nurses’ Association, Karnataka chapter. “In Mumbai, the recruitment notification mentioned Rs 30,000 per month as salary. But in Karnataka, a notification issued by Tumakuru district hospital offered just Rs 11,500 per month for a nurse. Why such disparity?”
Vijayamma S, assistant director, nursing services, health and family welfare department, admitted the department is yet to compile data on infected nurses. “Department brass are yet to tell me to compile the data,” Vijayammma said. “Nurses are as vulnerable to Covid-19 as are other health workers.”
HELPLINE LAUNCHED
United Nurses Association, Karnataka State Committee has launched a helpline to raise grievances faced by nurses working in Covid-19 wards. In a social media post, the association said authorities must, “Provide quality PPE, give complete salary, no forceful extra duty can be done, free Covid test and security. Any nurse facing problems can call 8095422444.” TNN
