Pensioner's Covid-19 recovery brings hope
ERWIN LEUSCHNER
WALVIS BAY
While coronavirus cases in Walvis Bay continue to increase, there is now a success story in the port city: Rudi Witulski (63), who contracted Covid-19 in May and was in a critical condition for weeks, has recovered.
“These past weeks have been an indescribable, emotional roller-coaster ride,” his wife Yvonne told Namibian Sun's sister paper Allgemeine Zeitung.
Witulski was admitted to the Welwitschia Hospital in Walvis Bay in May. After 40 days in hospital, the majority of which were in the intensive care unit, he was discharged on Friday.
The hospital staff has been praised for his recovery. “I owe this success to our super team,” said Matthias Braune, managing director of the Erongo Medical Group, to which the hospital belongs.
Health minister Kalumbi Shangula was also impressed: “This is an exceptional achievement by the hospital and its staff.
“I always hoped the patient would survive. I congratulate the entire team.”
Shangula had given an update every day about Witulski's condition. Witulski, until now only known as patient 22, was infected with the virus after a trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He returned to Namibia on 5 May and complained of shoulder pain. He was taken to hospital on 22 May and his condition deteriorated dramatically. Two days later, he was connected to a ventilator.
“I wasn't allowed to visit him afterwards, but I never gave up hope,” said Yvonne Witulski. She described it as a particularly challenging time, especially since her son was in forced quarantine at the same time.
However, she described the support from the community as incredible. A week ago, her husband was released from the intensive care unit.
“Then I was allowed to see him again for the first time. It was all very emotional,” said.
NBC staffer infected
Meanwhile, a woman working for the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation's Erongo regional office recently tested positive for Covid-19. According to the NBC's chief commercial officer, Umbi Karuaihe-Upi, the regional office has been closed for the time being as a precautionary measure to ensure that more people are not infected by the virus.
The employee does not work as a journalist at NBC, Karuaihe-Upi said.
Health minister Kalumbi Shangula yesterday afternoon announced 38 new coronavirus cases, 37 of which are from Walvis Bay. This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 412. One of the cases announced yesterday is from Engela in the Ohangwena Region.
WALVIS BAY
While coronavirus cases in Walvis Bay continue to increase, there is now a success story in the port city: Rudi Witulski (63), who contracted Covid-19 in May and was in a critical condition for weeks, has recovered.
“These past weeks have been an indescribable, emotional roller-coaster ride,” his wife Yvonne told Namibian Sun's sister paper Allgemeine Zeitung.
Witulski was admitted to the Welwitschia Hospital in Walvis Bay in May. After 40 days in hospital, the majority of which were in the intensive care unit, he was discharged on Friday.
The hospital staff has been praised for his recovery. “I owe this success to our super team,” said Matthias Braune, managing director of the Erongo Medical Group, to which the hospital belongs.
Health minister Kalumbi Shangula was also impressed: “This is an exceptional achievement by the hospital and its staff.
“I always hoped the patient would survive. I congratulate the entire team.”
Shangula had given an update every day about Witulski's condition. Witulski, until now only known as patient 22, was infected with the virus after a trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He returned to Namibia on 5 May and complained of shoulder pain. He was taken to hospital on 22 May and his condition deteriorated dramatically. Two days later, he was connected to a ventilator.
“I wasn't allowed to visit him afterwards, but I never gave up hope,” said Yvonne Witulski. She described it as a particularly challenging time, especially since her son was in forced quarantine at the same time.
However, she described the support from the community as incredible. A week ago, her husband was released from the intensive care unit.
“Then I was allowed to see him again for the first time. It was all very emotional,” said.
NBC staffer infected
Meanwhile, a woman working for the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation's Erongo regional office recently tested positive for Covid-19. According to the NBC's chief commercial officer, Umbi Karuaihe-Upi, the regional office has been closed for the time being as a precautionary measure to ensure that more people are not infected by the virus.
The employee does not work as a journalist at NBC, Karuaihe-Upi said.
Health minister Kalumbi Shangula yesterday afternoon announced 38 new coronavirus cases, 37 of which are from Walvis Bay. This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 412. One of the cases announced yesterday is from Engela in the Ohangwena Region.
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