Frontliner urges public to wear PPE

Sister Nadia Noring, Medical ICU Unit manager at Life Springs Parkland Hospital, has been right in the thick of things.

February 25, 2021

Xoliswa Kali 1 minute read

Sister Nadia Noring, Medical ICU Unit manager at Life Springs Parkland Hospital, said all the challenges faced by frontline workers have not kept them from making their best efforts in treating Covid-19 patients.

Medical staff caring for Covid-19 patients all over the world face mental stress, physical exhaustion and the pain of losing patients and colleagues.
Sister Nadia Noring, Medical ICU Unit manager at Life Springs Parkland Hospital, has been right in the thick of things.
She was part of the team that treated the first Covid-19 positive patient at the hospital.
“You have the fear. Not just fear of the unknown but questioning whether you will be able to treat the patient successfully and not feeling worthy to serve the community in such a big way.
“There is also fear of contracting the disease and then dealing with the fear and anxiety of the patient,” she explained.

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Noring admits there have been times when she questioned no matter how hard they tried, they could not save all their patients.
“Losing people at a high rate takes its toll on everyone. All we could do was pray and cry, pray and cry,” she said.
She believes that the team drew strength from their prayer sessions.
The hospital also provided counselling for the staff.
“It was sad rather than difficult having to deal with the loved ones of our patients.
“We became the middle man and we had to help them understand how the patients were doing, but we had limited time to speak to them each day.
“Being the only source of information was a huge responsibility, but most of the families were very understanding of our position,” she said.

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According to her, the community is not behaving better in complying with regulations.
“The only time we see a real difference in the numbers is when there are bans on certain things such as alcohol,” she added.
Noring said she wishes people would comply to save their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
“So many times I have had to tell a family that their loved one will not make it. They are often surprised because the patient could have been ‘healthy’ just a few days before.
“Covid-19 does not give you time for preparation, or getting used to your loved one being sick,” she said.