Experiences
COVID-19
SPECIAL
For people living in conflict zones, the pandemic spread of coronavirus disease (also known as COVID-19) represents a dramatic threat to life. Health systems are ravaged by war, and it could be difficult for people in these areas to prioritize actions related to the coronavirus COVID-19 as there could be many other more immediate threats to life, such as gunfire, shelling and bombings or lack of life-saving health care for other medical needs.
NEW PATTERNS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST HEALTHCARE IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
NEW PATTERNS
The International Council of Nurses has spoken out
Nurses deserve praise, thanks, protection amid COVID-19
Nurses and other health care workers on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19 deserve to be recognized and commended for their life-saving efforts and personal sacrifices amid increased medical risk – and in some places amid ostracization, harassment and attack. “ “Stigmatization and violence against nurses and other health workers in some countries is shocking; the only response is zero-tolerance,” said International Council of Nurses President Annette Kennedy
AFGHANISTAN: SPIKE IN VIOLENCE AGAINST HEALTHCARE AMIDST COVID-19 THREATENS MILLIONS
violent incidents recorded against health care providers, by patients due to COVID-19 in 40 countries
% physical 15% Verbal assaults
% fear-based discrimination
- In Afghanistan, the main COVID-19 isolation centre closed for a half day due to a physical altercation between relatives of a patient who died and health personnel.
- In Bangladesh, bricks were thrown at the house of a doctor after he tested positive for COVID-19 in a bid to force him and his family from the area.
- In the Central African Republic, relatives of a deceased person physically assaulted health personnel as they were frustrated by not being able to retrieve the body due to COVID-19 restrictions.
- In Colombia, residents obstructed ambulances from entering their town to screen for COVID-19 cases and reviewed confidential medical charts and the names of staff and patients.
- In Pakistan, doctors at a hospital were verbally and physically attacked after a patient died of COVID-19. Relatives entered a high-risk area while shouting that coronavirus was a hoax.
- Among the incidents against a person, 67 per cent targeted health care personnel, 22.5 per cent targeted the wounded and sick (including suspected patients), and 5 per cent were aimed at IDPs or refugees.
- In the Philippines, a health worker and his sons were forced to leave home after being harassed, discriminated and cut off from electricity by neighbours.
HCiD Ireland - Newstalk Interview
With Esperanza Martinez Head of Health, ICRC