SURVIVING LOCKDOWN

Since entering lockdown, life in the UK, and indeed in many countries around the world, has been transformed.

We’ve been asked to stay at home and to practice physical distancing and good hygiene to stop the spread of COVID-19.

For many MSF staff overseas, these types of restrictions are not new.

In many places where we work, our teams need to live in various forms of confinement for their safety, as they provide medical humanitarian aid in places affected by insecurity, war or outbreaks of disease.

Here, our staff share their tips for surviving lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and, ultimately, save lives.

“I think it’s important to remember your purpose for being confined,” says Catherine Flanigan, a nurse who recently worked with MSF on the search and rescue ship, Ocean Viking, in the Central Mediterranean.

Catherine was confined to the ship for weeks at a time, with very little room to move, especially when the ship was packed with rescued people on board.

Her role in the medical team was to provide care to all rescued people, with a special focus on survivors of violence.

“I didn’t mind being confined on the ship,” she says.

“Any inconvenience paled in comparison to the importance of the job we were doing, which was saving lives. And that’s true for all of us right now.”

Once you’ve reminded yourself why your movement is restricted, it’s important to accept the new rules.

Hopefully, you’ve learned to live with the lockdown measures currently in force in the UK and are ready to adapt to any changes over the coming weeks and months as the government moves to the next phase of its COVID-19 response.

“Accept that confinement is the new norm, don’t try to fight it,” says Dr Tom Niccol, who recently spent six months working with MSF in South Sudan.

Tom’s movement was restricted to the hospital and accommodation compound for months on end due to violence and instability in the area.

For six months, he worked as medical doctor in this extremely remote area, where MSF has run the hospital since 2014. 

Tom says while it’s easy to fall into the trap of questioning the new rules and regulations, it’s better to accept that the boundaries are there for a reason.

“You will be more at peace in yourself when you accept this notion, rather than being in a constant state of wanting to challenge authority,” he says.

“Remember, your liberty will return!”

Construction manager Jeff Fischer recently returned from a six-month assignment in Kunduz, Afghanistan, where staff movement is restricted due to insecurity.

The only permitted travel was from the accommodation to the worksite, where Jeff was managing the construction of a trauma hospital.

When military activity escalated, the team was forced into an even smaller space for days at a time.

Jeff says it’s important to have some activities and projects on hand.

“I was aware of the context of the assignment before I accepted it and arrived with chocolate and jigsaw puzzles to share,” he says.

“I also took a cheap ukulele and began to learn how to play it… quietly. The team was comprised of people from about a dozen nationalities and sharing recipes and cooking together became a favourite pastime; we even built a wood-fired pizza oven in the small garden.”

Catherine Flanigan echoes the importance of keeping occupied. She was on board Ocean Viking when it was quarantined by Italian authorities for 14 days as COVID-19 hit Italy.

“We tried to keep busy, doing work and training sessions,” she says.

“We tried to entertain ourselves a little bit as well with games, a quiz, movies, normal stuff. The ship was probably the shiniest it has ever been, and we cleaned and cleaned again. But it was really difficult to be out of our normal routines and to not able to do the work we’d come to do.”

While on assignment in South Sudan, Dr Tom Niccol found it helpful to have a routine to give some structure to his days.

“Sometimes it’s daunting to have so much time free time without access to any usual tasks to fill the day,” he says.

“Devise a routine even if this is scheduling mundane chores, such as morning – washing clothes; midday – family catch up via phone, etc. This will help to structure the day, maintain productivity and provide you with a reason to get out of bed!”

Exercise, even with limited space, is also recommended for its clear physical and mental health benefits.

“I purchased a skipping rope, resistance bands and a yoga mat. In a one-metre by two-metre floor space, I am able to do cardio and resistance exercise,” Tom says.

Confinement can be challenging, with little access to many of the activities that bring enjoyment.

Many of our staff overseas also live without creature comforts; for instance, while in South Sudan, Dr Tom Niccol lived in a tent with no access to hot water.

But our staff suggest it’s helpful to look for the positives within the new boundaries.

“Confinement forced me to rest,” says Tom. “It forced me to be innovative and learn coping strategies for ‘alone time’. I was even more connected to friends and family, as I had time for extended chats.”

Jeff Fischer says the cramped living conditions, against the backdrop of explosions and gunfire, “gave rise to a close camaraderie”.

“The main ingredients for living comfortably together in this context seem to be tolerance, respect and consideration for others, good manners and a sense of humour.”