Four young doctors share their fears on the Covid-19
Four young doctors – all University of Pretoria Medical School graduates – had no idea what was waiting for them when they relocated to Cape Town for their internships this year.
Kay Hendry, who is doing her second year, shares a house with a view of Table Mountain with Simone van Staden, Phillipa Essame and Byron Rudman, who are in their first year.
These young doctors are among many in hospitals across the country who have come face to face with Covid-19 in the various hospitals where they work.
The mountain, they say, grounds them, and is a welcome sight when they have a bit of time off from their hectic shifts. Debriefing and relaxing together when they can manage it goes a long way to keeping them upbeat, even on the most difficult days.
While the thought of contracting Covid-19 themselves is ever present, it became a reality for Essame, who tested positive this week.
To ensure that her housemates remain healthy and able to continue with their arduous tasks at the hospitals where they work, Essame has moved out temporarily to self-isolate.
She told the Pretoria News that Covid-19 was “a scary disease”, made worse by the fact that she now had it, and so much was still unknown.
“I have treated very sick people – some survive and some don’t. But luckily I’m young and healthy and I’m feeling positive,” she said.
She and her fellow internists speak daily about their work.
“We share the good and the bad. The house has been a massive support for me during this time and my housemates have become my family,” she said.
Read the full story on: IOL.