アフリカの英雄エボラ Dr. Matthew Lukwiya at Gulu in north Uganda in 2000 against Ebola
Los héroes africanos del Ébola
Por: Autor invitado| 07 de abril de 2014
.
Esta entrada ha sido escrita desde Uganda por nuestro colaborador Alberto Eisman (@ajeisman)
El Dr. Matthew Lukwiya. Foto:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.
African heroes Ebola
By: Guest Author | April 7, 2014
.
This entry was written by our partner from Uganda Alberto Eisman (@ ajeisman).
I just read the story of how the most recent outbreak of Ebola virus has already spread to several countries in West Africa . One of the stories in the newspapers regarding a beloved hospital director who has fallen in Guinea struggling with the disease , infected by the first victims of the epidemic of haemorrhagic fever Ebola best known for . It's like a macabre deja- vu of what happened in Gulu (northern Uganda) in late 2000, when 224 people succumbed to the disease , including a handful of nurses and Dr. Matthew Lukwiya , one of those responsible for hospital Catholic Lacor . This delicate situation they are now living all affected countries is a good time to remember all those heroes whose names - possibly - be African , are generally not remembered in the annals of world heroism. Today I have a story that should not be forgotten ..
It was in the late 2000 when Lacor Hospital in Gulu began simultaneously sick several health workers, most of whom died . Dr. Lukwiya , superintendent of the hospital, was currently in the capital, Kampala, and was called urgently. Then South Africa sent blood samples of affected but before he received the results , the doctor had already ventured out what it was . 17 people had died and, together with the nursing sister Maria Disanto , read the manual on a night they had for these circumstances and from the next day began to implement isolation and quarantine measures . When officers from WHO arrived, could not believe their eyes as they found a system with isolation barriers and health structure , had taken several more days , would have dire consequences for the population.
Here we should make a point and noted that Ebola in its various strains has an unusual hazard . All body fluids are a focus of infection, including the bodies can infect people if they are not treated properly. Within a week , rampant fever begins to block internal and day 10 of infection organs, the patient dies of shock after bleed from all orifices . Although there is already a vaccine research, today there is no cure for this disease. The only measure is to isolate suspected cases and expect them to cope with palliative treatments.
Dr. Lukwiya , along with another doctor and 15 nurses / as (all volunteers) began to take care of 70 people affected by the virus isolated in special compartments. The sick, despite the fear that was supposed to enter a habitat full of plastic and being treated only with staff wearing masks and gloves , speak of the peace that he conveyed to them , assuring them that they would take care of them and would do whatever was necessary for recovery . When the epidemic began to subside, an incident marked the destiny of this team with such dedication that had been struggling to save the greatest number of patients possible.
A nurse infected by the disease and in the later stages of the process, and dying with bleeding in the nose and eyes, when he had a fit of madness and began to destroy everything that was, medical equipment, pipes and beds ... trying leave the isolation zone . The staff called Dr. Lukwiya who entered the room with protected his mask, surgical cap , gown and gloves trying to calm him down. Unfortunately, in the haste required by the case, he realized he was not wearing goggles. When the patient finally died died an hour later, Dr. Lukwiya and two other health were already infected with the virus. Matthew began to feel ill and a week later when statistics indicated that the virus was winning (50% versus 10% recoveries initial) . Unfortunately , the doctor no longer part of this percentage.
His wife was in Kampala and disobeying the orders of her husband , went to Gulu to visit . He was given a protective suit that looked like something out of a spaceship. When she could already see through the helmet Mathew was crying , ordered him to be uncontrolled, saying " if you cry , then you restregarás face and this will make it easier for you get infected with the virus ." Lukwiya knew he was going and accepted his fate with an impressive serenity, died on December 6, 2000 . He was buried under a mango tree , within the grounds of the hospital in which he worked for many years and the few attendees who were allowed to be at the funeral , donned masks, latex gloves and attire protector following the protocol that it Lukwiya had established .
The heroism of this character should not only led the way to the bitter sense of duty , but also because his personal history was marked by his determination to pursue the most abandoned of his native region. Lukwiya scored top marks , scholarships and awards for study in the school of tropical medicine in Liverpool. He could have had access to any successful career outside their country , as well as 70% of Ugandan doctors emigrate to South Africa, Europe and Middle East , but he refused even an attractive academic position in Liverpool and decided to settle in a single hospital northern Uganda, a hospital which became superintendent under whose administration the number of patients seen tripled. The medicine was never for him a means to enrich themselves. He died as he had lived , knowing he had to be in the firing line and disregarding his personal safety to assist those most in need . If I had an honor roll of African exemplary lives , Dr. Mathew Lukwiya and part of your healthcare team will definitely occupy the first row.
0 件のコメント:
コメントを投稿