Work amid the pandemic - Chat with Paramedical Staff

R Kanakabujam has been working as a paramedical staff for the past 34 years. She has worked at the Government RSRM Lying In Hospital, Royapuram, Chennai, from 1986 to 2018. Since 2018, she has been working as a Super Grade ECG Technician at the Institute of Child Health, Egmore, Chennai. In this interview, she talks about her work during this pandemic.

Can you tell us something about your job?

My job is to record the ECG of newborn babies and to help diagnose their problems. I help maintain Echo reports, assist doctors and guide patients.

How did this pandemic affect your work and routine?

My prime concern was to keep my family safe during this pandemic. All these years, I have managed to maintain a hygiene routine after I return home from the hospital. But during this pandemic, I have had to be extra careful, not just because of the virus, but also to protect our newborn grandchild. When it came to work, transportation was a huge problem.

What is your opinion about the measures taken by the Government during the pandemic?

I appreciate the measures taken by the Government to control this pandemic. In a populated country like ours, lockdown and other such measures are very much required to handle the pandemic effectively.

Did you face any difficulty in your workplace during this pandemic?

Initially, the provision of masks, PPE kits and gloves were not sufficient. However, later it was all taken care of. The Government has provided us with all the primary requirements at my workplace. The only issue is that we have to utilise it efficiently.

How supportive was your family during these difficult and uncertain times?

My family has always been supportive. My mother, husband, children and relatives played a significant role during these difficult times. Without their support, it might have been difficult for me to achieve my targets.

What would you consider as your major achievement in your 34 years of service?

My major achievement is recording the ECG of a newborn baby without sedation. In my opinion, it is tougher than anything in the paramedical field.

Would you like to add anything?

Paramedical staff like us are not given proper importance or valour for our service. Even the media covers only doctors and nurses most of the time. My colleagues who are also paramedical staff, have been infected by the virus. However, it was not conveyed by the media. Our service is like any other service to society; it is important and I wish our service is recognised too.

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