“Nurses need better care and better safety”
Bahamian Nurses Union President Amancha Williams. Photo: Terrel W. Carey Sr / Tribune Staff
By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Chief Journalist of the Tribune
BAHAMAS Nurses Union President Amancha Williams wants a workers compensation system established to ensure the best medical care and treatment for nurses in the event of COVID-19 infection.
This system would include medical and compensation benefits.
In the recommendations presented to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis last week, seen by La Tribune, the president of the BNU called on nurses to receive private treatment and hospitalization when the virus is contracted as well as low-cost hotel rooms. prizes or free for security in isolation.
The union is also asking for additional time off needed for recovery and if a worker dies from COVID-19, benefits are given to immediate family.
Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis in the Bahamas, there has been a sense of fear and uncertainty among nurses.
Accordingly, other recommendations include access to adequate personal protective equipment; improved screening criteria and testing capacity to prevent new outbreaks and the spread of COVID-19; and prompt disinfection and cleaning of affected units.
The suggestions were made after the death of Bernadette Rolle, a nurse at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Center, from COVID-19.
Her death gained public attention after a voice note she sent to loved ones detailing her deteriorating health circulated on social media. He captured the fears she had for herself and her family.
At one point, she expressed hope that she would overcome the disease, saying, “… I came out of the worst, I came out of the worst (sic).”
Instead, she died on Friday August 21, one of ten people whose death from COVID-19 was confirmed within a week, according to information provided to The Tribune at the time.
In the recording, nurse Rolle said the difficulty she was experiencing breathing and eating was “frightening”, comparing her battle with COVID-19 to a roller coaster ride.
Prior to Nurse Rolle’s death, Ms Williams said some nurses were exhausted and discouraged from volunteering due to the way health officials are organizing the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms Williams said nurses are ready to work, but are tired of the way they have been treated during the outbreak.
Ms Williams also told this newspaper that there was a lack of information regarding employee health protocol and what would happen if a worker were exposed to the virus.
His recommendations last week also call for something to be done to limit exposure.
These include standardizing care in every health facility across the country, continuing education, and disseminating information to all nurses as changes are made, minimizing the displacement of nurses. from their units to other areas and continuing training for the appropriate use of PPE.