Gifts for healthcare professionals

The district trade union association provides assistance to people on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 infection.

The district trade union association provides assistance to people who are on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 infection.

– Recently, in connection with the fight against the spread of infection caused by COVID-19, the main attention of the public and volunteers has been focused on supporting medical workers who directly work with patients, – says the chairman of the district trade union association, Yury Mily. – A significant layer of work in the fight against infection is performed daily by specialists of the state institution “Lepel District Centre of Hygiene and Epidemiology”. The working day regime of specialists is quite intense, they work without days off. In order to support medical workers during this difficult period, we have been providing them with assistance for the second month in a row.
I would like to remind you: a month ago, for the needs of the employees of the healthcare institution “Lepel Central District Hospital” who are directly fighting COVID-19, at the expense of the district trade union association, household appliances were purchased for the hospital's rest room: a refrigerator, a kettle, and an iron. This time, a refrigerator and two kettles were delivered to the dining room of the State Institution “Lepel District Centre of Hygiene and Epidemiology”. The chairman of the trade union organisation of the institution, assistant doctor-hygienist Olga Khatskevich, says:
– Yury Vladimirovich informed about the intention of the district trade union association to help our medical institution and asked to clarify what we need. After consulting with the team, we concluded that a refrigerator and kettles would be useful for us.
We discuss the working conditions of the centre's employees with the chief sanitary doctor of the district, Victoria Mikhno:
– The first case of coronavirus infection COVID-19 in the Lepel region was recorded on March 13 of this year. Since then, the state institution “Lepel District Centre of Hygiene and Epidemiology” has actually been working in an emergency mode. Most of the employees did not know what a weekend was during the spring months. For example, the head of the epidemiology department, Natalya Pobortseva, left her workplace only at 21:30!
– What exactly do the sanitary service workers do?
– We are always on the front line. We are involved in identifying contacts of all levels. If possible, we interview the patient, determine the circle of people closest to him. These are his family members, as well as colleagues, heads of institutions, organisations.

and enterprises. At the same time, disinfection measures are being carried out.
– How do the families of your employees react to such an intense work rhythm?
– They know that the situation is temporary, that everything must eventually end. And for now, their relatives and loved ones have to go to work every day.
– Victoria Alexandrovna, how can you predict the course of the disease in the Lepel region? When can we expect a decline in the spread of infection?
– As a specialist, I cannot give an accurate forecast. Many objective and subjective factors interact here, most of which we cannot influence, or our influence as specialists of the district center for hygiene and epidemiology is minimal. With the onset of warm weather, residents of the district, tired of restrictions, are losing their caution.
Gifts from trade unions for specialists of the district center for hygiene and epidemiology are very important. It often happens that during the workday, doctors and their assistants do not even have time to have lunch at home or in a canteen. And now there is an opportunity to bring sandwiches from home, put them in the refrigerator, and have a snack during lunch or other time.
I appeal to the readers to exercise caution in the near future, to observe elementary social safety measures. We will definitely overcome the disease, but we must not lose vigilance, – notes the chief sanitary doctor of the Lepel district, Victoria Mikhno.