Nurse Mônica Calazans, 54, is the first Brazilian in the country to be vaccinated with the Butantan COVID-19 vaccine. A black woman with a high-risk profile for coronavirus headaches has not stopped running in the capital’s hospitals. , São Paulo, to save lives. For Mônica, the vaccination crusade is an opportunity for the entire population of Brazil to start over.
“It’s just a vaccine. It is the restart of a life that can be fair, without prejudice and with the guarantee that we will all have the same situations to live with dignity, health and well-being,” said the nurse, who is obese, hypertensive and diabetic.
In May, as the first wave of the pandemic entered its peak phase in São Paulo, Mônica applied for vacant fixed-term nursing positions. Among several hospitals, he chose to work at the Emílio Ribas Institute of Infectious Diseases, although he knew that he would be at the epicenter of the fight against the coronavirus. The vocation spoke louder,” he says.
A resident of Itaquera, in the east of the city, Mônica works 12 hours a day, every other day, in the intensive care unit of the Emílio Ribas, a referral hospital for severe cases of COVID-19. The sector has 60 exclusive beds for the care of coronavirus patients, with an average occupancy of 90%.
A woman of multiple backgrounds, Monica worked as a licensed nurse aide for 26 years and made the decision to move into school at a later level and graduated at age 47. “He who cares for the other will have to recover” our minds and we cannot be afraid. Of course, I’ve been very careful with the pandemic. I want to be in smart shape so I can dedicate myself. The one who has the gift of caring for the other knows how to feel the pain of the other and never leave it,” he said.
A widow, she lives with her 30-year-old son and cares for her 72-year-old mother, who lives alone in another house. That’s why Mônica pays scrupulous attention to hygiene and distancing, both in the paintings and at home – so far, none of the three have been infected with the coronavirus. However, Mônica saw COVID-19 in her family circle when her younger brother, a 44-year-old nursing assistant, was hospitalized for 20 days due to the disease.
Despite the intense routine, the nurse maintains her optimism and emotional balance. A fan of Corinthians (a prominent football team), Mônica spends time in the hospital to watch the matches and the club. She is also a fan of TV series and songs. by Seu Jorge, the nurse’s favorite artist.
Monica relies on religion to accept it as true and says daily prayers for herself, her family, her co-workers, and especially for the patients. “I keep thinking that I can’t be defeated because the patients love me. I have a positive word and that we will get out of this situation. What is also helping me is the enthusiasm I feel for my work,” he concluded.
First vaccinator
Brazil’s first vaccinator is also a nurse. Jéssica Pires de Camargo, 30, works in the Disease Control Coordination and has a master’s degree in Public Health from the Santa Casa Hospital in São Paulo.
With her experience in immunization clinics and physical surveillance units, Jessica has already deployed thousands of doses in SUS campaigns against yellow fever, influenza, measles, and other diseases. For Jessica, the start of vaccination against COVID-19 is a historic milestone in her career and especially for Brazil.
“I didn’t expect to be the user who would give me that first dose. This fills me with pride and hope that more people will get COVID-19 and that other professional colleagues can feel the same satisfaction as I do. to be a part of it. There are more than 52,000 fitness professionals mobilized in this crusade and each one will have to get the popularity they deserve,” said Jéssica.