The Covid-19 nurses: Sharing our stories

Available for over a year

Around the world nurses are risking their lives to treat coronavirus patients. Intensive Care Units in particular have been described as the frontline of this pandemic. It's there that the sickest Covid-19 patients are looked after round-the-clock by highly specialised nurses. Today two of those nurses from two different continents are sharing their stories with Kim Chakanetsa. Hannah Gray is a 23-year-old nurse working in an Intensive Care Unit at a major London hospital. Her unit has rapidly expanded to accommodate extra patients, and all the staff are getting used to working in full PPE or Personal Protective Equipment. Bianca Dintino is a 26-year-old critical care nurse based at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. She was among the first to volunteer to work with coronavirus patients when they started arriving at her hospital in mid-March. She describes the camaraderie that has developed among her co-workers during this difficult time. Dr Safaa Kumari is what's called a 'plant virologist' looking for solutions to epidemics that destroy crops. Born in the city of Aleppo in 1963, Safaa was determined to recieve an education and after discovering seeds that could safeguard food security in her region, she risked her life to rescue them. Kimiko Wakiyama from Japan is pioneering an unusual musical style.... she's a whistler, and not just that, but one of the best in the world and she wants whistling to be taken seriously. She says it can be a profession, not just a pastime. Our reporter Alessia Cerantola went to meet her. Picture: (L) Bianca Dintino & (R) Hannah Gray Credit: Anne Marie & Simi Sebastian