Priests will hold services in COVID-hospital near Ufa

In the infectious diseases hospital in the village of Zubovo in the Ufa region of the republic, priests and sisters of mercy will begin their service, it is planned that they will be able to support patients and medical staff in both the “green” and “red” zones of the hospital. In addition, the medical center will soon be re-consecrated, for the first time it was consecrated at the opening in May 2020, Natalya Akhmetova, HEAD of the department for working with medical institutions of the Ufa diocese, told RBC Ufa.

“Metropolitan Nikon will bless a priest to serve in the medical center. The service will be carried out taking into account sanitary and epidemiological requirements. We have been working with patients in hospitals for a long time, the algorithms for such work have already been built. Almost everywhere in the republic, the clergy provide support to the sick, including the CORONAVIRUS,” said Natalya Akhmetova.

According to Aigul Galiyeva, deputy chief physician of the hospital for medical affairs, the patronage of the center by clergy will be able to support not only patients, but also staff, in particular, will help doctors overcome chronic stress and reduce the risk of professional burnout.

Prior to serving in the medical institution, the clergy will undergo a special briefing on sanitary and epidemiological safety and a training course on the use of personal protective equipment. In addition, the issue of organizing a center for broadcasting life-affirming films in the patient wards is being discussed.

The diocese does not rule out that the experience of helping the patients of the covid hospital by priests in the future can be replicated in other cities of the republic.