WHO/Europe | Migration and health - Refugee nurse Ahmed Ahmed: working together to prevent COVID-19 infections in Turkey
▻https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-determinants/migration-and-health/news/news/2020/6/refugee-nurse-ahmed-ahmed-working-together-to-prevent-covid-19-infections-
"To address the health risks caused by COVID-19, I became part of a contact tracing team, helping patients recall everyone whom they had been in close contact with during the time they were infectious. We handled each case with care and precision. I worked side by side with Turkish colleagues towards the common goal of identifying COVID-19 patients, interviewing them in a quick and efficient manner, performing tests, recording data in health information systems, and informing them that they may have been infected.“During these 2 months, I worked as a nurse but also assisted as a translator when we were interviewing Arabic-speaking patients. If on average an interview took 3 minutes with my mediation, without someone who could communicate with patients in their mother tongue, I believe visits would have taken considerably more time.“Being able to communicate freely without any language barriers and in a non-judgmental way is of the essence during contact tracing, especially as identifying possibly infected individuals is a time-sensitive matter. The sooner people are identified, the fewer people are at risk.“It felt rewarding to reach COVID-19 positive individuals in a timely manner, because I know we were actively preventing the spread of the disease within communities, thereby protecting the health of hundreds of people.“During work I did not think about my refugee status, I did not feel separate from the common efforts of the Turkish health system. I was part of a united team with my Turkish colleagues. We kept each other motivated and encouraged one another to remain in high spirits. I do still miss seeing my colleagues’ smiles at work though, which are now covered by masks and protective equipment
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