“My workplace ain’t give us anything. They just telling we to wash we hand and be careful but nothing to wash we hand with. It is hard on me but I happy the children don’t have to go to school,” she said.
“The most they coulda do is give we something because we have to be going all over de place. As security guards we don’t work one place every day. The only thing that save some ah we is when the people where we get post give we a lil rubbing alcohol and other thing to use.”
With the coronavirus, COVID-19, reaching Guyana’s shores I decided to speak to a number of women to see how they are dealing with this virus which the World Health Organization says is a pandemic. The general feeling I got from many of them is that they are really not taking it seriously or are just ill-prepared, financially mostly, to deal with it. I also got the impression that some workplaces are not taking the employees’ health seriously.
“I have my lil bleach and so home, so I does take some of the alcohol that I get from the people home and is that me and dem children using to try to keep the place clean. I does tell them open the window so that nice breeze come in and hopefully everything will be alright,” the security guard continued.
“But I don’t know how dem treating we like this. I mean, even if was a cake a soap we would understand. We would feel lil better that dem at least care about we but dem ain’t giving we nothing,” she said of her workplace.
Another sister I spoke to is ensuring that her place of employment takes the pandemic seriously.
“Not me, I not making joke!” she exclaimed when we caught up.
“I ensure that I have all that is needed, Lysol, bleach, rubbing alcohol and I am stocking up on my vitamin C because my immune system weak and is just so I does get knock down so I not taking chances.
“At work we have Lysol, we have hand sanitizers and we ensuring that our employees follow strict hygienic practices. This is not the time to make jokes. To be honest I think this thing will hit Guyana real hard. We not prepared for it and it is scary as hell.” She indeed looked scared.
“Things have to be done in this country to fight this thing and the government have to take the bull by the horn and get cracking,” she added passionately.
President David Granger has gazetted some sweeping measures, inclusive of mandatory quarantine and gave the Ministry of Public Health access to the Consolidated Fund, as they attempt to fight this pandemic, which is wreaking havoc worldwide.
Another sister I spoke to was also not happy with her workplace’s response to the virus.
“What they are doing is not enough and I think it is ridiculous. We are informed and I don’t see why we cannot take better measures. What will it take for them to provide better for their employees who are their greatest asset?” she asked rhetorically.
“But I can’t depend on them. I have to do what I need to do so I ensuring I have rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizers and everything because if I get sick is me and my family will suffer.
“At home is the same thing. We are not making joke with this thing. My daughter is even spraying people with Lysol before they come into the house,” she said laughing.
Unlike her, the sister who is a security guard does not have the means to provide what is needed at work and not working is not an option.
“I have to work because if I don’t then wah will happen? So even though dem people don’t take care of we, I have to go and do what I need to do and pray that better would come,” she told me.
“I travelling with public transportation so when I get home, I have to get myself clean before I go among my children and I have to get things to do that.”
I was happy that she was knowledgeable enough to know that she must ensure that she takes all the necessary precautions and keep her children safe.
“You know at the end of all of this, I just hope that Guyanese would learn to better take care of their hygiene because you know a lot of Guyanese don’t take it seriously,” the second sister said to me later.
“This must be a wake-up call for all of us and I just hope this thing don’t get worse before it gets better because Guyana cannot afford it.
“We Guyanese like feel before we can hear, and this is not the time to do that. Those who can’t afford it must be assisted to employ proper hygienic practices because if they don’t then we will all be at risk. You and I can take all the necessary precautions, but we have to go out there and work and we are mingling, and we could contract the virus,” she said in a more serious tone.
I could not agree more. And I must admit that I am trying my best to ensure my family and I remain safe and I believe that is the most we can do and just hope for the best. Where we can help someone so that they can also be safe let us not hesitate because we are affected. COVID-19 has no face or race, we are all vulnerable.
Up to the time of writing, Guyana only had five confirmed cases, but it is believed that this could rise significantly. Worldwide there were 254,632 cases with 10,440 deaths while 89,070 persons had recovered.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus: fever, cough or shortness of breath. Other symptoms can include persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse and bluish lips or face.
Remember, you can protect yourself and help prevent spreading the virus to others if you:
Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub
Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze
Avoid close contact (1 metre or 3 feet) with people who are unwell
Stay home and self-isolate from others in the household if you feel unwell
Try as much as you can not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth if your hands are not clean.
Stay safe, sisters and keep your families safe.
