- Title: Inside a COVID-19 ward, Iraqi doctor fights to save lives
- Date: 30th June 2020
- Summary: NAJAF, IRAQ (JUNE 16, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DOCTOR, ALI MUSA AL-HASANI, WEARING A FACE MASK AND GETTING INTO HIS FULL PROTECTIVE SUIT AT AL-HAKIM HOSPITAL AL-HASANI'S COLLEAGUE HELPING HIM TIE HIS PROTECTIVE SUIT AL-HASANI BEING SPRAYED WITH DISINFECTANT IN THE HOSPITAL CORRIDOR (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DOCTOR WORKING IN CORONAVIRUS WARD OF AL-HAKIM HOSPITAL, ALI MUSA AL-HASANI, SAYING: "In the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, I was among the three doctors who volunteered to bear the responsibility of treating patients ill with the coronavirus." PATIENTS WAITING IN LINE TO ENTER THE COVID-19 TESTING ROOM MEDICAL STAFF WEARING FULL PROTECTIVE SUITS RECEIVING PATIENTS VARIOUS OF MALE PATIENT UNDERGOING A SWAB TEST MEDIC SITTING ON A DESK AND WRITING PATIENTS' NAMES ON TEST TUBES NAJAF, IRAQ (JUNE 23, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DOCTOR WORKING IN CORONAVIRUS WARD OF AL-HAKIM HOSPITAL, ALI MUSA AL-HASANI, SAYING: "It is normal to be afraid. Every human being feels fear. For us, it was gradual. In the beginning of the pandemic, we were very scared and hesitant to approach patients. We feared for ourselves and for our families." NAJAF, IRAQ (JUNE 16, 2020) (REUTERS) PULSE OXIMETRE ON PATIENT'S FINGERTIP AL-HASANI STANDING IN FULL PROTECTIVE SUIT BY PATIENT'S BED AND READING HIS PULSE NAJAF, IRAQ (JUNE 23, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DOCTOR WORKING IN CORONAVIRUS WARD OF AL-HAKIM HOSPITAL, ALI MUSA AL-HASANI, SAYING: "With time passing, as we realised that we were helping patients, saving their lives, the fear gradually receded. Also, we started to have more awareness and respect protective measures." NAJAF, IRAQ (JUNE 19, 2020) (REUTERS) AL-HASANI TALKING TO A COLLEAGUE, BOTH IN FULL PROTECTIVE SUITS, AT THE ISOLATION WARD RECEPTION VARIOUS OF MEDICS BROWSING MEDICAL FILES AT THE ISOLATION WARD RECEPTION NAJAF, IRAQ (JUNE 23, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DOCTOR WORKING IN CORONAVIRUS WARD OF AL-HAKIM HOSPITAL, ALI MUSA AL-HASANI, SAYING: "The most important challenge we face as doctors in the isolation ward are [the shortages of] medical equipment and medication that patients needs. Sometimes patients need CPAP machines, ventilators and medication that can save their lives." NAJAF, IRAQ (JUNE 16, 2020) (REUTERS) AL-HASANI WALKING THROUGH THE ISOLATION WARD CORRIDOR / KNOCKING ON PATIENT'S DOOR AL-HASANI AND COLLEAGUE STANDING NEXT TO A COVID-19 PATIENT LYING ON A BED MAN WEARING A FACE MASK TALKING THROUGH A WINDOW TO A COVID-19 PATIENT SITTING ON A BED FEMALE COVID-19 PATIENT WITH FACE MASK SITTING ON A BED AND READING THE KORAN NAJAF, IRAQ (JUNE 19, 2020) (REUTERS) ELDERLY COUPLE ILL WITH CORONAVIRUS WEARING FACE MASKS AND SITTING ON A HOSPITAL BED NAJAF, IRAQ (JUNE 23, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DOCTOR WORKING IN CORONAVIRUS WARD OF AL-HAKIM HOSPITAL, ALI MUSA AL-HASANI, SAYING: "The second challenge we face is the mindset of patients and their readiness to accept that they have fallen ill with the coronavirus. Some of them don't believe that the illness exists and deny the complications they are experiencing. Even when their condition deteriorates and the complications increase, some refuse to undergo treatment." NAJAF, IRAQ (JUNE 16, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MEDIC STANDING AT FEMALE COVID-19 PATIENT ROOM'S DOORSTEP AND GIVING HER INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT PROTECTIVE MEASURES TO FOLLOW UPON HER RELEASE FROM THE ISOLATION WARD NAJAF, IRAQ (JUNE 23, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DOCTOR WORKING IN CORONAVIRUS WARD OF AL-HAKIM HOSPITAL, ALI MUSA AL-HASANI, SAYING: "We really fight for our patients. I don't mean that they get charity, it is our duty to do our best to take care of them. But when [you fight for a patient] and the following day, you realise that his condition has deteriorated or even that you have lost the patient, it is a terrible feeling. You feel frustrated, disappointed and are afraid that you did not do everything you could for this patient." NAJAF, IRAQ (JUNE 22, 2020) (REUTERS) AL-HASANI CARRYING A PRAYER RUG AND PLACING IT ON THE FLOOR IN THE HOSPITAL'S STAFF ROOM VARIOUS OF AL-HASANI PRAYING
- Embargoed: 14th July 2020 12:49
- Keywords: COVID-19 Coronavirus Doctor Frontline Hospital Iraq Isolation ward Najaf
- Location: NAJAF, IRAQ
- City: NAJAF, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Health/Medicine,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001CKKBKGL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Every day for the past four months, Dr. Ali Musa al-Hasani methodically puts on layers of clothing and a face shield to protect himself as he treats COVID-19 patients in Najaf's al-Hakim hospital.
As the coronavirus pandemic broke out in Iraq, he was one of three doctors who volunteered to work at the hospital's isolation ward, caring for patients who fell ill with the virus.
Despite his initial fear of interacting with patients, the doctor said he quickly realised how important and life-saving this work was and his fear receded.
The biggest challenge the hospital faces is the occasional shortage of medical equipment, including ventilators, convalescent plasma and medication, said al-Hasani.
Other challenges are of a psychological nature. Al-Hasani explains that some patients deny the coronavirus' existence, even as their condition worsens. Some refuse treatment altogether.
Al-Hasani also faces personal challenges. He said he has not been able to hug his children in weeks, and his wife constantly worries that he might bring the virus home.
Despite all the hardships, the 46-year-old insists on pressing on, hoping he will continue to save lives from the clutches of the disease.
So far, the coronavirus pandemic has claimed 1,839 lives and infected 47,151 people in Iraq, according to official figures issued by Iraqi health authorities on Monday (June 29).
(Production: Alaa al-Marjani, Mohammed Katfan, Charlotte Bruneau) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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