The Slovak Chamber of Nurses and Midwives (hereinafter referred to as "SK SaPA") calls for decisive action against verbal or physical attacks on health professionals. At the same time, he calls on citizens who refuse vaccination to realize that health workers are not perpetual motion machines. The attitude of certain groups that are against vaccination or attack medical professionals must be strongly condemned, as it dishonors the work of all those who put their own lives on the line every day to save patients with the disease of COVID-19.
"We express deep concern over several events that have appeared in the company v as a result of refusing to comply with anti-epidemic measures in connection with the disease COVID-19. Despite the serious situation in which we are trying to keep our hospitals functioning in order to save as many people as possible who have become infected, there are people among us who cause conflicts in society and call for non-respect of measures or refusal of vaccination", states the president of SK SaPA Lazorová.
Nurses and midwives are expected to continue to provide 100% patient care. However, on a daily basis, they perceive the indifferent approach and statements of some people, including politicians, to belittling the situation with the COVID-19 disease in Slovakia, to the refusal to cover the upper respiratory tract with a respirator and questioning the importance of vaccination, which must be fundamentally condemned. Such an approach does not at all encourage nurses and midwives to continue to provide care to all patients in challenging conditions and at the edge of their powers.
Nurses and midwives are tired, burned out and out of control. "We haven't been properly home for almost a year", say the nurses and midwives. "It is unethical to ask us to make such sacrifices while part of the public behaves irresponsibly, aggressively, even attacks." The weaker first wave of the pandemic was replaced by a much stronger second wave, which increased the total mortality rate in Slovakia by 125% and claimed thousands of lives, including health workers. No proven treatment was available and no vaccine was available. Now we are in a different situation. People have the opportunity to avoid the acute course of the disease, or they can reduce its effects on their health, yet they are unwilling to do so. They burden not only health workers, but also the economy of the state, which must be condemned.
Opponents of vaccination, as well as some politicians, should realize the seriousness of the situation that has affected the Slovak health system, because if nurses and midwives do not come to work due to their persistent physical and psychological exhaustion and the irresponsible behavior of certain groups of people, we ask who will take care of them and their relatives? Maybe those who deny the current situation with the pandemic will sign up and come to help the tired health workers in the hospitals as volunteers. We welcome their help. Surviving one service "in the shoes of a nurse" will show them the sad reality, and then hopefully we will see an understanding.
Source: Slovak Chamber of Nurses and Midwives Slovak Chamber of Nurses and Midwives (SK SaPA) is a self-governing state organization with nationwide scope, headquartered in Bratislava, bringing together 38,000 nurses and midwives. The main task of SK SaPA is to defend the professional, economic and social interests of the members of the chamber in medical, social, school and other facilities.