Covid-19 Healthcare Workers: Balancing Safety And Care Giving Implication For Counselling
Efosa-Ehioghiren Augustina Izehiuwa. Phd
Human Initiative Development and Research Centre (HIDRC) Benin City, Edo State of Nigeria
Prof. R.C. Ebenebe
Keywords: Covid 19, Healthcare, Workers, Safety, Care- giving, Mental-health
Abstract
The study examines theoretically COVID-19 healthcare workers: Balancing safety and care giving implication for counselling. The 2019 novel corona virus pandemic (COVID-19) is an international public health emergency unprecedented in modern history and the healthcare workers are at the frontline fighting this virus. In this fight primarily, healthcare workers, such as nurses, nursing, technicians, those conducting testing, screening and medical doctors who are in direct contact with patients and their body fluids, are those most vulnerable to infection. Healthcare workers who are in direct contact with infected patients need to balance safety as well as care giving by having their mental health regularly screened and monitored, especially in relation to depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. In the same way, it is essential to identify healthcare workers with a history of exposure to psychosocial risk factors. Therefore, psychiatric treatments should be provided to those with more serious mental health problems. Specifically regarding the mental health of healthcare workers in the context of COVID-19, it is important to identify secondary psychosocial factors that may potentially generate stress, e.g., healthcare workers with chronic diseases, living with young children or older family members, among others. Therefore, all hands must be on deck as relevant authorities should prepares to honour healthcare workers, providing comprehensive insurance policy, giving incentive, motivation as a way of acknowledging the role they play in saving lives and keeping loved ones safe and alive, and supporting people affected with COVID-19 in community.