Christian nurses and doctors in Bangladesh are vowing to continue their battle against the Covid-19 pandemic on the front line as they mark International Nurses Day on May 12.

Clara Biswas, 34, is a Catholic and senior nurse who has worked in private and government hospitals for 11 years. She now works at a state-run hospital in capital Dhaka that treats both Covid-19 and other patients despite various challenges.

“I have not worked in such a situation in my life. This is a very risky time for us and other medical personnel, though all medical staff are using personal protective equipment (PPE) for safety,” Biswas told UCA News.

In addition to the fear of infection, the wearing of PPE for more than eight hours is tough as it gets hot and she feels sick, while the hospital does not allow them to use a common toilet and provides no food, she noted.

Joyanta Mrong, 32, is an ethnic Garo Catholic who works at state-run Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He is aware that his wife and son face risks because of his job.

“I know how to handle myself, but they are not medical persons, so I’m afraid for them,” Mrong told UCA News.

There are 2,500 nurses and 170 doctors from the Christian community actively fighting the deadly virus in Bangladesh, according to church officials.