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When Covid-19 struck in March last year, Nicholas Otieno, a paramedic nurse at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) isolation centre, was in a dilemma — how to tend to his patients and have time for his family given the strain the disease has caused and the risks involved. 

His fears were confirmed when he had to choose his patients over relatives as he has not, in the past year, visited relatives and friends for fear he might infect them with the virus. 

Otieno is among several uncelebrated frontline workers, who have placed their lives on the line to save Covid-19 patients, as the pandemic ravages the region. He is one of only four paramedics, who have been helping patients in public facilities in Kisumu. 

Shortage of personnel has meant that they have to work longer hours.

And with the new Indian variant hitting Kisumu hard, Otieno’s work just got harder.

Second trip

He has to board an ambulance almost daily to rescue patients in emergency situations. 

“It has not been easy. The thought of going back home puts me in distress because I know I am always at risk of contracting the virus,” he says.

When People Daily caught up with him, the father of one had just made his second trip to the facility after they had rescued a Covid-19 patient. 

The nature of his work, he says, has also impacted negatively on his child, who can no longer intermingle with other children in the neighbourhood due to fears that he could infect them with the virus.

At the beginning, he says his family got traumatised thinking that he would die in the wards while taking care of the patients.

He has attended to hundreds of Covid patients, and the number keeps rising. 

His worst experience was when he had to isolate himself early last year.

He has also seen patients losing their lives to the virus even after struggling to keep them alive. 

“What makes me work harder is the urge to save lives and I really feel good when I see my patients improving and fighting against the disease until they get discharged,” he says.

The paramedic, however, says the government does not appreciate their efforts and the good work they are doing.

According to Dr George Rae, chief executive at JOOTRH, the hospital has become the main response centre for critically ill Covid-19 patients in the region.

He said they have approximately 150 beds that are at the disposal of patients, with majority of them connected to oxygen.

“Currently, we have approximately 60 patients but we are expecting more because of the third wave,” which he says is driven by the delta virus that is easily transmittable.

Dr Rae disclosed the high numbers of patients with few staff has posed a challenge. 

At JOOTRH, there are two isolation centres for Covid-19 patients.

Dr Rae commended the paramedics for doing a tremendous job despite the risk involved.

He says the health workers need counseling, treatment and recognition. According to Fred Oluoch, Kisumu County director of health, healthcare providers have been on the forefront of ensuring patients are safe in spite of the hurdles. 

Some of the challenges, he disclosed, include lack of airtime for communication, inaccurate information about location of patients, lack of fuel and bad roads.

In Kisumu, Oluoch says there are four paramedics with 21 ambulances and 27 drivers.

In Siaya, nine ambulance drivers have been burning the midnight oil rescuing patients and ferrying Covid-19 samples for testing to Kisumu town.

County Executive for Health Dismas Wakla told People Daily that the officials have played a key role in the transfer of critically ill patients. 

“They are our heroes. Their major contribution is the quick emergency response in emergencies,” said Wakla.