Nurses are attacked and spit on

Healthcare professionals have been pushed to the limit in various parts of the world in line with the increasing spread of the coronavirus.

While they have been praised for their efforts, they have also endured hatred.

Annette Kennedy, president of the international nursing organization ICN, which represents 20 million nurses around the world, tells the TT news agency that nurses are being spat on and attacked.

– They spit and attack nurses in a violent physical way in countries around the world. We have seen it in Africa, Latin America, Europe and North America. It’s pretty common, she says.

The nurses are attacked and spit

The explanation behind the attacks lies in part in misinformation that nurses are spreading the infection, says Anette Kennedy, who believes the attackers are scared.

But the fact that nurses and other health professionals are attacked during a pandemic is not a new phenomenon.

– More has happened when the number of infected and dead in covid-19 increased. I think it’s because people are scared and receive incorrect information that nurses are spreading the virus, Anette Kennedy tells TT.

“Everyone on the front line is tired”

Now he warns that the heavy workload, combined with his personal experiences, can lead to burnout, anxiety, depression and chronic illness.

– Everyone on the front line is tired. They have worked long shifts and experienced many traumatic situations, especially those who have been close to many who have passed away. It’s the nurses who have held hands when patients have passed away, he says.

Expressen has previously reported attacks on nurses in Mexico, the Philippines and India, among others.