ISRRT_COVID-19_book
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Impact of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic on radiographers in Palestine<br />
Hussein ALMasri, Anas Khateeb and Omar Rimawi<br />
<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> Pandemic in Palestine<br />
The novel coronavirus (<strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong>), which started in Wuhan, China by the end of 20<strong>19</strong>, has<br />
caused a widespread concern. The <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic posed a major health effect on the<br />
Palestinian community, especially among young people, women, those with lower economic<br />
status, and those living with high-risk people. Healthcare workers (HCWs) have great worries<br />
regarding their health and the health of their families. Additionally, they are worried about<br />
getting infected with the novel virus.<br />
According to United Nations UN (2020), the ability of the Palestinian health system to cope<br />
with an expected increase in the number of patients remains severely deficient due to longterm<br />
challenges and critical shortages, particularly in Gaza Strip. As in the case of other places,<br />
the most vulnerable groups are whose conditions may warrant intensive medical care which<br />
include elderly people suffering from high blood pressure, lung disease, kidney failure,<br />
cardiovascular disease and diabetes. People living in refugee camps and other poor and<br />
densely populated areas across Palestine face a great risk of infection due to overcrowding<br />
and poor sanitation systems 1 .<br />
The UN (2020) report added the most urgent and indispensable, and still in shortage, items<br />
to contain the spread of <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic and reduce the risk of death among vulnerable<br />
groups including: personal protective equipment (PPE), basic supplies for infection control,<br />
consumables and medicines for treating breath shortness, ventilators, heart monitors,<br />
recovery vans, portable X-Ray machines, and <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> testing equipment. Hospitals across<br />
Palestine are facing a shortage of specialized intensive care unit staff. Radiographers, as a<br />
major force working in producing diagnostic images, are at a great risk of acquiring and<br />
transmitting infection due to direct contact with patients and imaging equipment.<br />
This chapter focuses on the readiness of radiography departments in Palestinian hospitals<br />
during <strong>COVID</strong>-<strong>19</strong> pandemic from a point of view of Palestinian radiographers. Additionally,<br />
17
Change language