MPILO Central Hospital has lost a nurse to Covid-19 who
died at the institution last week.
Sister Pretty Mpala (36) from Emakhandeni suburb in
Bulawayo tested positive posthumously and was buried on Friday.
She is one the hundreds frontliners in Zimbabwe who have
been infected while trying to save lives. According to a weekly situational
report from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, nurses are the most affected
workers when it comes to Covid-19 and they constitute 37 percent of total
health care workers affected.
As of Monday, there were 6 497 confirmed Covid-19 cases in
Zimbabwe and 202 deaths. Bulawayo province has a cumulative total of 1 276
cases, 25 deaths and 1 140 recoveries.
Statistics from the Ministry show that more than 480 health
workers have contracted the global pandemic in Zimbabwe.
Bulawayo (137) and Midlands (128) account for a greater
proportion of infected front liners.
Healthcare workers have been greatly exposed to Covid-19
due to the global shortage of personal protective equipment.
More than 120 nurses at Mpilo Central and United Bulawayo
Hospitals have contracted the virus, forcing them into quarantine, thereby
reducing the number of workers who are manning the public institutions.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 1
000 nurses have been infected by Covid-19 in Africa alone.
The outbreak of Covid-19 has seen nurses worldwide making
huge personal sacrifices, sometimes attending to patients without adequate
personal protective equipment (PPEs) risking their health and that of their
families.
The world over, at least 90 000 health care workers had
been infected by Covid-19 and more than 260 nurses had died by the end of May
according to the International Council of Nurses (ICN).
In an interview, Sr Mpala’s aunt, Mrs Kezzeneth Mpala, said
the family had lost its breadwinner and was struggling to accept the nurse’s
fate. She said Sr Mpala’s guardian, her grandmother, had fallen sick after
receiving news of her untimely death last week.
“We are still shocked and in deep pain following the
passing of Pretty who was the sole breadwinner in the family. Our hearts are
sore and we fear for her traumatized grandmother who raised her following the
death of her parents as she is struggling to walk or talk since her death,”
said Mrs Mpala.
“Pretty was a caring person and it was not surprising that
she eventually became a nurse. She went through a lot of challenges while
growing up but managed to shrug off all discouragement and qualified as a nurse.”
According to Mrs Mpala, Sr Mpala was passionate about
serving her people and community which made her a committed and resilient
nurse.
Mpala, the only child born to her late parents, started her
nursing studies in 2013 and had never looked back. She also struggled with some
illnesses which never killed her hardworking spirit as she managed to do her
duties at Mpilo while battling the ailment. “We used to meet members of the
public in town who would stop and thank her for the care she rendered while
they were admitted to Mpilo. She was also a darling to the community and our
relatives and would easily give health advice so that everyone around is
healthy and fit. Her loss has brought a lot of pain in our lives and we hope
one day we will understand why her life had to end this way,” she said wiping
away tears.
Mpala is survived by her grandmother and cousins.
Mpilo acting chief executive officer Professor Solwayo
Ngwenya sent his condolences to the family saying Covid-19 had cost the
institution a hard-working staffer.
“We are extremely saddened that Covid-19 has taken one of
our staff members, her premature death is evidence that this disease is deadly.
As health workers are at the forefront, we continue to bear the brunt of this
virus but we still must work hard and face it while saving lives,” said Prof
Ngwenya.
“Most of us will be infected in the line of duty and it is
sad that one of our self-sacrificing nurses had to lose her life. I would like
to commend all those who come to work despite the risks that come with our
jobs, this kind of sacrifice is highly commendable.” Chronicle
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