Coronavirus: Brazilian doctors

Available for over a year

Brazil's health service has been pushed to the brink as coronavirus cases continue to climb. Some 66,570 people died of Covid-19 in March, more than double the previous monthly record, and the total number of Covid-19 related deaths is over 320,000. Yet President Jair Bolsonaro continues to oppose lockdowns and has been heavily criticised for his handling of the pandemic. There have also been problems with the rollout of Covid vaccines. Two Brazilian doctors, in Sao Paolo and the southern city of Porto Alegre, share their experiences during these challenging times. One hasn’t seen her family in 14 months and describes colleagues crying during shifts. Host Karnie Sharp also hears from three midwives in Romania, Nigeria and the United States about overcoming women’s fears from giving birth during a pandemic - especially if they have Covid-19. (Photo: Medical staff works in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital of Clinicas, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, 21 March 2021. Credit: Marcelo Oliveira/EPA)