‘Astronauts’ who combat the deadly swine flu
Mid-day: Employees of Sassoon Hospital have to cover themselves from head to toe in polypropylene non-woven material.
They look like astronauts all geared up for a space mission. Not that their work in Pune is any less important.
All doctors, nurses and Class-IV employees of Sassoon Hospital, who work with swine flu patients, are covered in polypropylene non-woven material that includes a cap, goggles, gown, gloves, footwear and the ubiquitous N-95 mask. Twelve of Pune’s 13 swine flu deaths took place at the Sassoon Hospital.
The clothes have to be disposed of after they come in contact with an infected patient or leave the H1N1 ward. They are given a fresh set each time they come in contact with patients.
And other than the discomfort that the suit is, they say other members of the staff have been avoiding them. “Many of us also avoid going home so that our family members are not affected,” said a doctor in charge of the H1N1 ward. Added Dr Anita Basarvaraj, who is in charge of one H1N1 unit, “Initially, I had no personal life. I was in the hospital all the time. I have two children, but I hardly spent quality time with them.”
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