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TIRANA – “Civil society organizations are asking the state institutions to ensure the safety of health care professionals during this difficult time. In the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, Albanian healthcare professionals should NOT become victims of the epidemic due to logistical issues,” has warned as joint statement released on Wednesday by seven civil society organizations.
‘Together for Life’, ‘Alliance of Patients’ Organizations’, ‘Patients organization with Hepatitis’, ‘Albanian Diabetes Association’, ‘HOPE – Health Organization for Promotion and Education’, ‘Albanian Community Assist’, and ‘Institute for Development and Civic Initiatives’ said they were monitoring closely the COVID-19 situation in Albania. According to them, in addition to the concerns of taking appropriate measures to ensure the health of the population special attention should be paid to the health care professionals who are in the frontline of the service delivery of suspected / confirmed COVID-19 cases.
“Doctors and nurses should be able to provide care for suspected/confirmed patients with COVID-19, and not be hindered by limited access to consumables such as: masks, gloves, special clothing, hands disinfectant, soap, water and detergents. The risk for the health care professionals’ health will increase if there are delays in the deployment of the needed medical supplies,” it was said in the statement.
They called on the Albanian Government of Albania to give priority to the effective management of the emergency supply chain pledging their support when needed. “We are convinced that without protecting the health care professionals, we cannot control COVID – 19.”
In conclusion the seven civil society organizations said that Albania has a dramatic reduction of health care professionals: doctors and nurses are leaving the country where the working conditions are listed as one of the main reasons for deciding to work abroad. “Albania has one of the highest morbidity rates in the Region, and the lowest number of health care professionals for target population. In these circumstances, the protection of the existing health care professionals is crucial in defeating COVID – 19. We need to protect them,” it was said./argumentum.al/
