The phone rings and an affable voice answers:
- Good morning journalist, how are you doing?
-Well, do you have today's data? -No.
- Yes, of course, I'll tell you right away. Take note of the number of suspects from Covid-19 in isolation centers; also the contacts…
Las Tunas.- This has invariably been the case every morning for almost three months now. And in that kind of ritual he is always ready to offer the truthful and timely information of the epidemiological panorama. His name: Jesús Manuel León Silva, responsible for the command post of confrontation to the new coronavirus of the Provincial Directorate of Health.
He goes from one place to another injecting energy to the people; he advises, supervises so that everything goes well. He takes on the commitment from Monday to Monday without forgetting to smile, and I can vouch for that. From this side of the line I discover him diligent and always solicitous, despite the rush imposed by the routines.
They have been very intense days," he tells me, "at the head of this team made up of epidemiologists, geographers, statisticians, computer scientists, psychologists, specialists in General Comprehensive Medicine, and support staff. From here, we coordinate all matters related to admissions and their classification (suspects, contacts, travelers).
“Every day we hold a technical meeting between experts in order to discuss the situation of the territory. In addition, a video conference is held with the Minister of Health and his advisors to evaluate the behavior of the disease on a national level and take the necessary actions.
Along with the figures and the processing of various aspects, interpretations and the possibility of providing decision makers with an accurate view of the evolution of Covid-19 coexist. “It is up to us to update the data on a daily basis and to ensure the authenticity of the data with which the highest authorities take the most accurate measures in the face of the pandemic. Believe me; this requires a lot of seriousness, integration, professionalism and effort."
He confesses that at the beginning people did not stop calling the command post because of the concern and stress that every new illness generates. To deal with the complexities of the moment and to provide support to the population, it was decided to incorporate psychologists into the group.
In this offensive for life, wills come together; beings that, without wearing in green, contribute something more than a grain of sand and also deserve our applause. This experience has been a real school for me, since it has allowed me to have more knowledge, from the epidemiological and clinical point of view, of infectious diseases."
León Silva has exchanged the quietness of the house for the effervescence of work, and the longing for a large part of his people makes the sacrifice more deserving. “I am from Holguín and only my wife accompanies me here. The other part of the family is far away and super worried, but the communication has served to shorten the distance a little. It is quite difficult not to be able to visit my mother, brothers and sisters, my daughter and grandson."
For Jesús the challenge goes beyond extended days without defined schedules. It is knowing how to be responsible for leading this mission with a sense of belonging that makes him experience the most varied emotions. He never loses his optimism, but every time he has had to notify a positive patient to SARS-CoV-2 he is perceived as sad and dull; a reaction that is greatly influenced by the human being who lives there.
OFFICE INSIDE
The office, located at the Provincial Center of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology, is a meeting place for several specialties. The sound of the telephones, the preparation of the daily report, the follow-up of the isolated patients mark the daily maelstrom.
Epidemiologist Diamela Moreno Varela says that the activities of her profile are carried out there by four women. I was in the middle of my work when she agreed to give me a few minutes.
What are your duties?
“We coordinate the actions of the teams, the transfer of patients according to their characteristics, the classification of cases and the centers where they are located. In order to consider them as suspects they must have some symptom; and the contacts, which may be of those possible patients or of confirmed ones, we admit them, even if they are totally asymptomatic, taking into account the behavior of the disease.
“We process the information from the data provided by the different fronts (Statistics, Computing, Acute Respiratory Infections Program, Health Promotion). We prepare the report that updates the Provincial Defense Council and we monitor the national and international panorama to know the risks.
From her trench, the young doctor has given the fight to “the bug”. I imagine her with the tenderness impregnated in her eyes, deciphering numbers and looking at details.
She will spend another 24 hours away from home without holding her four-year-old baby girl; a time that is eternalized in a mother's heart. But she will get through it as she has done so far. “It's our duty as epidemiologists to carry out this assignment."
Very close by, the statistician Olga Martinez Guerra stops her work for a few moments and explains: “I'm head of medical records at the Martyrs of Las Tunas pediatric hospital, but I'm here on duty. My function, basically, is to issue reports to the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP in Spanish) at certain times.
“We have -she explains- a program with several indications; we fill the database with the updates offered by the municipal command posts and the hospitals.
Despite her 32 years of experience in the profession she confesses that it has been a challenge, but she has received the unconditional support of her family. “The health of the people is worth any sacrifice and as a Party member I am ready to help the Revolution."
The performance of psychologists has been of vital importance, not only to offer specialized attention to those who request it, but also to clear up the population's doubts on certain issues. Mr. Yoel Estrada Capote comments: “If we don't have the answer, we will call them another time.
“Sometimes they report us the presence of some national traveler or social indiscipline. We try to attend to them as best as possible, always using the tools of our branch, and the people are grateful. Usually Estrada practices in one of the offices of the health area of the Aquiles Espinosa Polyclinic and although they changed their roles he feels satisfaction of being there, where he is more useful.
MINUTES, HOURS, DAYS
The clock strikes 9:00 in the morning and Francisco Durán García, National Director of Epidemiology, returns to the screens. An attentive country, clinging to optimism, hopes that today's news will be more encouraging than yesterday's.
After his speech, I pick up the phone again and a voice from the other side of the line answers again:
“Good morning journalist, how are you doing?” There begins our inescapable dialogue. And I thank the understanding attitude, the disposition and even the good character of Dr. Jesús León. I think then, of the “luck” of finding people like him and his team, with desire to do and always ready to collaborate; necessary people who awaken all admiration.
