"Nursing is a progressive art, in which to remain inactive is to have failed." Florence Nightingale.

CAMAGÜEY.- For Liudmila Mora del Pino, Nursing was always the first option, perhaps even the only one. She knew this because trust and familiarity unite us, but she confirms it in her first words for Adelante Digital:

“In high school I applied for a Bachelor of Nursing, but it did not come. I decided on the option of medium technician, that year they had granted 150 places in the province. I graduated in 1996, as a specialist in surgical unit in 2001, and as a Bachelor in 2010. Currently I work as a supervisor at the Dr. Eduardo Agramonte Piña pediatric hospital, where I have been working since 1996 ”.

- You were in Bolivia, for a short time. Tell us.

- I completed a mission in Bolivia for six months. It was interrupted by the coup d'etat against Evo Morales, which forced the Cuban medical brigade to leave there untimely. My stay in that country was from May to November 2019. I was there as part of the Operación Milagro ophthalmic surgery program.

“It was very hard to leave. Our patients cried when they found out that we were leaving and asked who would look into their eyes, who would attend to those who did not have the money to pay for a consultation. Today Bolivian colleagues still write to me, telling me how much they miss the Cubans. Very sad.

“Before returning, there was strict surveillance by the Bolivian police. We could not leave the house, we depended on colleagues from there who bought us what was necessary to come. After a long journey of 8 hours by plane, we arrived at the Homeland, and were greeted by the Ministers of Health and Foreign Affairs, among other members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba.

- And now, COVID-19 imposed a new mission ...

—I was responsible for monitoring pediatric cases with suspected COVID-19. We provide nursing care, administration of medications, measurement of vital signs every 6 hours and, fundamentally, we observe the appearance of signs and symptoms of respiratory complications.

“I started from March 14 to April 7. All those days I wore pajamas, an overcoat, boots, a hat, a mask, gloves and goggles. It was a good experience despite facing such a dangerous and deadly virus. I met new colleagues with whom I shared many hours and nights in ward A of the Amalia Simoni hospital.

“Above all, it allowed me to offer my knowledge and company in the well-being and recovery of the children and relatives who remained in our care. During my work at the Amalia Simoni hospital, I established relationships with some of our patients, but together I had a family of a boy and a girl — sons of a confirmed Cuban resident abroad — who tested positive on different days; her mother was left in our living room, alone, practically without consolation, since her cardiac adolescent nephew also tested positive and could not be with them. It was difficult for me to comfort her but I put my effort, my patience, my love ... and I did it.

Imagine how difficult it was when I had to finish. When announcing my last shift, they asked me to continue there, not to return to my hospital because they would miss me a lot ... while sad it is a very satisfactory situation in our profession. That affection does us a lot of good, it is the best way to know if we did it well.

"For now, I'm not going back to 'Amalia.' I am required for my position as a supervisor in the Pediatric Hospital, I have that commitment and I also find myself useful there. ”

- What should not miss a male or female nurse?

"What should not be missing is love." The main thing is to love your profession, the patient and the family. We have to dedicate ourselves, body and soul. You have to know how to sacrifice personal interests for the good of the patients.

Translated by Linet Acuña Quilez