Fighters against the pandemic

1 Rocío Llorca (digestive doctor at the Valme hospital in Seville).

He is 33 years old and has been working for several days during 12-hour marathon days. But there is no weariness to mitigate your dedication. Nor the desire to continue fighting the pandemic. “Our job now is to try to decrease the influx to the hospital. We are conducting many telephone consultations, especially in patients at risk, the elderly and chronic diseases. Performing only strictly urgent tests. Waiting for the peak here to be much lower than in Madrid and to be able to attend to all patients with all means. Although the situation is harsh, I am very proud of the colleagues at my hospital and of the collaboration with the patients. ”

2 Manuel Carrillo (35 years old). Cook at the Gregorio Marañón (Madrid).

"The number of dishes for patients with coronavirus is increasing, and also for the personnel who take care of them and work longer hours. In this way, professionals leave the hospital as little as possible and can contain this a bit. ”

3 Dra. Elena Cela (55 years old). Head of Pediatric Oncology at Gregorio Marañón (Madrid). "We are ready for the Covid-19," says bluntly. Oncohematological patients, he explains, are problematic because their immunity is low. "At this time we take more precautions so that they are not exposed to the virus by health personnel or visitors," he says. And he adds: "The patients who are at home are very well taught, the families are wonderful and they are able to comply with all the strict isolation protocols."

4 Ester Prieto (47) Cleanser. Gregorio Marañón, Madrid. "Our work is now very important to disinfect everything well," he says. "You have to give good to the door knobs with bleach," he adds. "And a key thing is not to hug or kiss the children these days: we will have time to do it with great affection." "Now we all have to be together," he insists.

5 Angélica Rivera (left) and Rosario Torres (right), emergency physicians at the Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid. Both are at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19, in Madrid, epicenter of the epidemic in Spain. They stop for a moment to record this message and portray themselves, but they are in full frenzy, battling an unknown and inexorable enemy. Trying not to be overcome by the exponential growth of infected patients. Despite the harshness of the situation, the doctors seem not to lose heart, nor the smile, which is sensed under the mask. All this despite the marathon days and the delicacy of their task. "Our job now is also to humanize the situation," they explain. Also "identify as quickly as possible the most serious patients, those who need our help more quickly."

6 Naiara Uriarte, emergency lightning technician at the Hospital de Santiago de Vitoria. This specialist shows a rocky spirit. Vitoria is one of the cities most affected in this health crisis. "These days are being very hard," explains Uriarte. The work of this specialist and her colleagues requires dedication, precision and a tough and solid character like Naiara's, who says goodbye with a positive message in these days of fear, isolation and uncertainty throughout Spain: "We will succeed in winning this fight. Here we continue day by day fighting for all of us. Aúpa! "

7 Julio García, head of the microbiology service at the Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid.

"Overnight we have had to adapt the entire service to make ourselves diagnose as crazy samples of patients suspected of coronavirus," he explains. The epidemic came suddenly. We had to react at full speed. "We have a large influx of samples so the entire service is collaborating: we are operating as a large family."

8 Elena Wheat. Medical specialist in tropical diseases and imported pathology.

La Paz-Carlos III Hospital, Madrid. Dr. Wheat makes a hole in a crazy day. The arrival of patients does not stop. And it's up to him to be in the trench: "Just today you catch me in the fight. These days I dedicate myself to the clinical assistance of positive patients and people suspected of suffering from the disease." She adds that she and her colleagues are busy "improving care for patients and family members of those who may die from this disease." They do it "to dignify and humanize" the situation.

9 Manuel Marín Rueda (61), doctor. Coordinator of the Transfusion Center of Seville.

Marín is a doctor and a patient. "For nine months I have suffered from a tumor pathology with colon cancer and liver metastases. That does not prevent me from continuing to work the same as now. I am not a hero. I do the same as before: trying to supply Seville, the province, and , if possible, entire Andalusia ". "We need 300 people to donate daily, before and now. There will continue to be pathologies that need blood: transplantation, cancers, leukemia, accidents ... I coordinate everything I do from home."

10 María Ángeles Jódar (53). Laboratory technician at the Gregorio Marañón hospital, Madrid.

He works in the microbiology service, where "intense" days are lived. "We receive all the samples for diagnosis. We are delivering the entire service, side by side." The professional explains in detail the task that each day is launched with exhaustion: "Laboratory technicians perform a fundamental and little-recognized function. We assume a very important risk because we treat the samples from all patients, decontaminate them and extract the RNA from from which it is determined if the virus is present in the patient. They are very meticulous techniques that demand precision and many hours of work. " Now they are assiduously doubling shifts in their area. "We have already suffered some loss," he regrets.

11 Manolo Benjumea (38), nurse at the Virgen de la Victoria Clinical Hospital in Malaga.

Benjumea works in the area of ​​emergency critics. "We are concerned that a spike in infections and cases is expected, but we want to work and continue to keep smiling." His is a vocation. Like his peers, he has to adapt to new protocols every day. And adjust to the scarcity of means. "There is fear of catching us. We do not want to be isolated at home: I want to be fighting and caring. I was born to be a nurse. This is not going to stop me or my companions. We are Spartans. Everyone on the battlefield."

12 Elena Muñez Rubio, doctor of the infectious diseases unit at the Puerta de Hierro University Hospital, in Majadahonda (Madrid).

"Given the size of the problem, we are recruiting professionals from other specialties," he says.

13 Silvia Sánchez Gavira, Emergency nurse at the Virgen de la Victoria Clinical Hospital, in Malaga.

"We have a shortage of materials, which is what worries us the most. We face patients whose diagnosis we do not know every day. There are many who come for other pathologies and then test positive for coronaviruses." Their main concern is the material for health professionals on the front lines of the pandemic front. "Masks, full PPE ... They give us a gown and a raincoat for the entire shift. Every time we dress we expose ourselves to contagion."

14 Tamara González Gutiérrez (35), emergency nurse at the Málaga Clinic.

"My colleagues and I are facing the coronavirus crisis with hardly any material or human resources," he says. "We try to work as a team and improvise in the absence of material."

15 María Jesús Matías (37), Emergency doctor at the Samur in Madrid.

Live the crisis aboard an ambulance. He says that uncertainty surrounds him: "Especially not knowing how this will evolve." He feels "immense pride" for healthcare professionals who are giving not 100%, but "200%".

16 Arantxa Tubería, nurse at the Basque transfusion center.

With a bomb-proof humor, Tubería says he is "on top": "Doing everything I can to overcome this crisis." His commitment in this battle against the coronavirus is such that he even plans to change his work plans. "This was going to be my last month of work because I have to retire. But if it is necessary for me to stay, I am willing to do it." That is the strong commitment to its mission.

17 Jorge López. Warden of the Hospital La Paz, Madrid.

"We take care of managing the caretaker staff so that all services and all patients can be seen and treated as soon as possible," he explains.

18 Sonia Jimenez, emergency physician, Hospital Clinic.

Dr. Jiménez is part of the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine. Given the Covid-19 crisis, it is clear that emergency measures have been key to fighting the pandemic. “That is why it has been so important to stay at home." "Now we are not just here to accompany you, take care of you and heal you. Now we are also trying to make our lives, that life is the same again. "

19 Carlos Elvira, head of the admission service of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (Madrid).

The hospital has been practically her home for too many days. The center, he explains, has undergone a traumatic metamorphosis to fight the pandemic: postponed operations, canceled consultations ... "All of us on the team are excited to fight in this war that we are going to win." He knows that they are not alone in the battle: the calls, messages and smiles of thanks from the patients and visitors that cross the aisles are the gasoline they need to continue.

20 Ana Vegas (43), infectologist at the Hospital Universitario de Alcorcón (Madrid).

He has seen patients since the outbreak began at his center: "It has been so fast that it has caught us all off guard," he says. Despite this and the difficulties, he remains optimistic.

21 Georgina Mínguez Saiz (63). Head of the hospitality service at the Ramón y Cajal Hospital (Madrid).

He explains his mission during the greatest healthcare challenge the world has faced in decades: "We are dedicated to supporting our healthcare partners in these difficult times and caring for our patients, just as always."

22 Pío Rómulo (47). Family doctor in a Huelma Health Center (Jaén).

He is 47 years old and currently works as a pediatrician. "We are seeing patients, making telephone consultations, solving doubts, attending home warnings in ambulances ... We also make guards where we see different pathologies. This is a 24-hour primary care emergency point. During the state of alarm, care is prioritized; recommendation is to assist only in certain pathologies, especially minor ones ". Purpose of this recommendation? Avoid overexposure to contagion.

23 Susana Sánchez (52) intensivist at Ramón y Cajal (Madrid).

He recounts a scene of great confusion trying to iron out the drama with a little sense of humor: "The hallways are full of doctors running around and covered up; no uniform labels so no one knows anyone. The hospital looks like the train from the hospital. witch of fairground attractions. "

24 María Liz Paciello Coronel. Associate doctor of Hematology in the cryopreservation laboratory of Hospital 12 de Octubre (Madrid).

"Our patients are sick with leukemia and other hematological pathologies that require immunosuppressive treatments, so they are especially vulnerable to the coronavirus," he points out. Since the health crisis began, "only urgent transplants are done." Some of his colleagues have been infected and the pace of work is frantic. He has stopped his usual activity to cover those affected by the pandemic who arrive at the hospital. At the time of this report, its center dedicates seven plants to those affected by the coronavirus.

25 Mercedes Angulo Luna. Pediatric emergency nurse at the Hospital de Leganés (Madrid).

"I feel like I'm doing the job that I've been prepared for," she explains. "Of course, you come back from work tense, because you do not disconnect at any time."

26 María Navarro Barba, emergency nurse at the Gregorio Marañon in Madrid.

"I would like to convey to all my colleagues, and especially to the emergency department, that we are the first barrier against the coronavirus, a lot of calm and a lot of teamwork," he tells us. "Now is the time to support each other. Together we can do this. Working together we can do many beautiful things for people. For everyone."

27 Isabel Garraza, Hospital Txagorritxu de Vitoria.

"I have had to be isolated for 14 days at home after caring for an elderly person who later died. And we still have people on leave: some at home, others admitted." One of these days, there was a lack of staff: "When reinforcement for night shifts was requested by WhatsApp, within four minutes there were seven volunteers." She also wants to show her appreciation to the citizens, to all the people who stay at home.

28 Santiago Moreno Guillén (59). Infectious diseases service of the Ramon y Cajal Hospital (Madrid).

Its dealer is the first to deal with patients with Covid-19. Moreno has been the head of the service since 1999: "Our area is in charge of preparing patient management guides." "Now, we are witnessing the responsiveness of a system and a staff in the face of an unforeseen situation for which there had been no previous trial. Satisfied and proud," says this experienced doctor who has also held the position of president of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC) and has been the founding president of the prestigious AIDS Study Group of this institution.

29 Ana Galindo, administrative of the Hospital Clinico San Carlos (Madrid).

You will not forget these days lived to the limit. Neither the tension nor the pressure with which, he assures, these days pass. "Let no one doubt it: absolutely all levels of the hospital are going to give everything we can," he says with a broken voice and on the verge of an emotional explosion.

30 Pilar Arribas (42). Nurse, supervisor of hospitalization of Internal medicine at the Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón (Madrid).

In 22 years of experience I had never experienced anything like it. Your unit has been converted to a "Covid unit". It is responsible for organizing shifts, ensuring that there is sufficient work material and verifying that security protocols are scrupulously followed for the transit between “the hot zone” (of infected people) and the “temperate zone” (in principle, free of pathogens). "We are prepared. We are going to be able with the virus", he concludes.