A Maltese frontliner working at a swabbing centre has said that she has only been paid for one month’s work since the pandemic hit Malta last March.
“Although I do not mind helping out with all the duties related to the Coronavirus, it is inhumane to work in such conditions where we are understaffed, unmotivated and payment for our duties is months behind”, Martina Agius said.
Agius, a frontliner working in a swabbing centre wrote a Facebook post addressing the Maltese Authorities, specifically Prime Minister Robert Abela who had once said that “we won the war” and “il-mewg fil-bahar qieghed” (the waves are found in the sea).
Asked on whether she was given a reason for why she has only been paid once since COVID-19 started in our country, she remarked that she was simply told that “it was related to administration issues, which is too vague of a reason.”
In her post, she stated that “we predicted the future for you in June/July… We had clearly identified how we wouldn’t have the necessary resources when the second wave would hit.”
“I dare you to spend a day at a swabbing hub, where we are overwhelmed with the influx of swab tests being done daily. Working through a heatwave, in full personal protective equipment (PPE), without a swabbing buddy because we aren’t equipped with enough gowns,” she wrote in her Facebook post.
Speaking to Agius about the overall working situation, she explained that “we are currently equipped with negative pressure rooms with AC, but the person swabbing has to work outside, in the sweltering heat, in order to carry out the test.”
Working at a testing centre especially during Malta’s summer months is far from a walk in the park.
“Knowing that a heatwave was upon us and knowing that even without the heatwave it is too hot to work in full PPE in the afternoon sun, the authorities should have come up with a solution,” Agius said.
“This might have included either limiting the amount of time spent swabbing, therefore replacing the swabber more frequently (taking it in turns) or finding an alternative way so as to not allow frontliners to work in such conditions.”
She explained that “before we used to work in pairs – a swabber and a buddy – however, the buddy has now been eliminated from the equation as we are low on gowns. In fact, we cannot change so often as we are low on such equipment including certain PPE.”
Agius highlighted that “Prime Minister Abela said that there is no pressure on the health care system, therefore there is no need for panic. However, we are overbooked with appointments and under a lot of pressure in the sun, with many people not only in long queue but also complaining, whilst trying to maintain infection control as much as possible.”
Asked whether the authorities are doing something to improve this situation and the shortage of equipment, Agius remarked “that they were told to resort to hazmat suits until the gowns are back in stock.”
“I cannot imagine people swabbing whilst wearing that suit in the sun,” she said.
Agius clarified that “the issue is not within the Public Health Department as the Public Health staff abide by all the necessary guidelines and are very empathetic. They are the ones who stood up for us when needed with Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne.”