CAMAGÜEY.- Fatigued faces behind thick face masks, family concerns eclipsed by duty and hopes to overcome the pandemic, are emotions of the group of women from the Octavio de la Concepción y de la Pedraja military hospital, who every day fight against COVID-19.

As so many Camagüey´s women demonstrate that even in the worst moments, the Revolution finds in women the strength to carry on.

Zoe's commitment

Among the places to call home, intensive therapy is the least frequent, but for Dr. Zoe Roca Núñez that barrier between life and death is simply the house.

As the group leader in that room, she comments that this has been a challenging experience from a professional point of view, because it requires more preparation.

"A challenge. I was part of the group that cared for the first serious coronavirus patient in Camagüey and although there was a bit of a scare at the beginning, we are guided by the important mission of saving lives, ”she says.

Seeing people in serious condition due to an avoidable disease is among the most difficult for this intensive doctor. “There is a difference between a patient in an open room, and serious or critical patients. The work is stronger and riskier, there is a greater probability of contagion, but we are there, with them”.

Wilma's experiences

In twenty-three years of work as a nurse, Wilma Estrada López never imagined facing a pandemic of this magnitude. However, her professionalism and human courage are at the disposal of the sanitary battle.

Forged in the "Military", she currently serves as the head of the second floor of the hospitalization room in the Red Zone. This work has allowed her to put into practice all the knowledge of her beloved career, although this does not prevent painful experiences.

“Shocking situations always arise but in recent rotations we have worked with many children. It hurts to see a little boy in a bed with COVID-19, especially when his relatives have tested negative for the disease”, and her voice fails her.

Her affinity with her patients constantly reminds her of her family and the warmth of home, where she is a mainstay. But, although she misses them too much, she responds as many times as necessary to the call of the country without blinking.

"It is hard to leave the family behind, and it worries to think that in the period of rotation in the hospital some situation arises and I cannot be with them, even though they are aware of the importance of my work."

Her family at home is one of Wilma's strengths; she also forged it with her companions throughout the years of work at the “Military Hospital”.

This nurse proudly sees the commitment of her colleagues, which reaffirms her conviction that there is no small task when it comes to saving lives.

Rubislaydi's metamorphosis

On Friday of last week the shift began, and the constant risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 is a reality.

With 11 years of experience working at the institution as a clinical bio-analysis specialist, Rubislaydi experienced a 180-degree change, when the coronavirus forced the laboratory to close. Leaving the robe hanging has not been that difficult, as she describes herself as someone adaptable, capable of performing any function.

"For six months I was in the cleaning area of ​​the hospital, since I could not be in the red area for family reasons," she explains.

Now the situation and her disposition placed her in the laundry, where she begins the process of sterilizing the bio-safety material.

"I work three days in a row and we don't have a schedule, because everything must be ready for the next day."

With teams unrelated to new technologies, Rubislaydi and the members of the laundry team between sweat and sacrifice do everything possible so that adversities do not become obstacles to the performance of duty.

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The dedication of Leyanet

Behind the red line, in a sea of ​​green gowns it would be difficult to recognize her face, however with the same impetus as the rest of her colleagues, Dr. Leyanet Castillo Abalos does not lower her head in the face of danger.

Ten days have passed since she started her eighth rotation and in the break between shifts she shares her experiences of the reality on the other side of the tape.

“Very tense, because we work in different circumstances, with various means of protection and complying with all the measures so as not to get infected; something exhausting”, confesses she who recognizes the importance of teamwork.

"Colleague becomes a small word to express the bonds that are formed here, friendships that remain forever, support in hard times and one of the keys to staying healthy in so many rotations."

The pandemic has also shown her the fragility of her life. The internal medicine specialist is sure that she will never forget this experience, which has made her see the world in a different way.

They, who conquer fear every day, leave their family behind and forget their own mortality to save others, reveal / synthesize the essence of a nation of women with tireless spirits, who in the face of adversity show that victory is not a utopia.