Psychological Impact of Covid-19 on Frontline Health Workers

Abstract

Coronavirus also known as COVID-19 belongs to the same family of viruses responsible for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome for and zoonotic and person- to-person is its mode of transmission. . The emergence of this pandemic has been a massive test for health-care systems in terms of their capabilities and weaknesses. A crucial effect of this pandemic has been its’ impact on staff mental health Evidence that Covid-19 pandemic impacts significantly on psychological well-being of Health Care Workers (HCWs) exists. The psychological effect ranges from, loneliness, competency concerns when redeployed without adequate training, inadequate and cumbersome personal protective equipment (PPE),personal fear and anxiety can result in further dissonance and moral distress, prolonged separation from family and other support systems if quarantined, frequent  exposure to patients suffering and dying among others. It is therefore recommended that adequate infection control training, better welfare package and more support from colleagues and other support systems to ensure there is no deviation to the illness side of the mental continuum.

Keywords: COVID-19, Frontline, Health workers, Psychological,