Bashkiria Ministry of Health summed up COVID-19 pandemic results

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced that the new disease COVID-19 had acquired the character of a pandemic. The healthcare system had to restructure urgently, the Bashkiria Ministry of Health recalls.

The head of Bashkiria, Radiy Khabirov, decided to build four infectious disease hospitals in the republic in record time. The first, in Zubovo, was constructed in just 55 days, and the second, in Sterlitamak, in 50 days. The WHO highly praised the COVID hospital projects, which were replicated in 10 country regions. The Ministry of Health noted that the prompt development of the Bashkiria project showed that the country is ready to respond quickly to emergencies.

According to the department, 371,548 cases of coronavirus infection were registered in Bashkiria during the pandemic. The most challenging year was 2022, when more than 220,000 patients with COVID-19 were identified.

Doctors, nurses, and orderlies worked around the clock, without days off and without the opportunity to see their families. Wearing protective suits was exhausting. Despite fatigue and fear for their lives, medical personnel continued to fight the virus, the Ministry of Health said.

“We have become stronger. We have learned to fight the unknown, support each other and not give up. It was a hard lesson, but it showed what people are capable of when human lives are at stake,” recalls infectious disease specialist Regina Galieva.

Author: Elina Akhmetova