Faculty of Dentistry - Rising Star

Dr Priscilla Brijlal Rising s tar

Personal sacrifices needed to sustain balance during Covid-19

DOCTOR Priscilla Brijlal is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Dentistry and Head of Department of Oral Hygiene. She has extensive expertise in the area of dental education, clinical practice and oral health promotion in South Africa.

The sudden shift to an online teaching environment was a huge adjustment for her, like for so many others. “Facing the dawn of an online-only work space was a significant shift for me. UWC is a contact university and because of the clinical field I work in, it was a huge challenge making the shift; navigating the online space and being creative in the way we presented lectures, assessments and attended meetings. “Although I am 20 years into lecturing, online preparation and teaching posed many challenges as we transitioned from the traditional classroom method we were accustomed to. We had to learn fast and adapt to the new changes instantaneously. Furthermore, there was no structure to the day. Working hours went into the night. It was a challenge trying to get a system going at home and it often led to exhaustion and frustration.”

Like many of her colleagues, Dr Brijlal believes that women have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. In the initial months of the lockdown, she worked from home, along with the whole family and without a regular domestic worker to share the workload.

“Women in general have household and childcare related responsibilities, in addition to workplace responsibilities. Apart from the daily responsibilities, the health of women is more profoundly affected as they are child-bearing, child-rearing and are further subjected to hormonal changes at different life stages. “In the absence of my helper, the day started with household chores, making the breakfast, cleaning up and then going online — either teaching, attending meetings or preparing online lectures. This was followed by preparation of the lunch meals and doing more household chores, going online again and then preparing for dinner. It was cleaning, cooking, eating and working — three times a day, for months.” Once the staff and students began returning to the faculty in a phased approach, Dr Brijlal had to resume clinical teaching and training on patients.

“I have had to cut corners to sustain my sanity — cutting my prayer time, drastically reduced my sleep time and often skipping meals and also my exercise time, just to keep house and up to date with work.”

“The greatest challenge is the anxiety of being around people, patients and within a hospital setting where Covid-testing and hospitalisation is in progress. Furthermore, the donning of personal protective wear such as N95 masks with another surgical mask beneath, facial screens, head and foot gear, does not make it easier. It is an incredibly challenging time for everyone in the health sector.

“We work long clinical shifts and stand for all this time. Before leaving the office, we have to change into our own clothing, which we again remove before entering the house. Amidst all the commitments of home and work, death is looming over us in the workplace and in our families. We just have to support each other to get by each day. I draw strength from my family and friends, while looking out for those in need.

“A healthy work-life balance was not much of a possibility over the last year – and women have had to make personal sacrifices to sustain any kind of balance.

“I am at work every day at the Tygerberg Oral Health Centre, while my family work from home. I still do the chores and cooking before I leave home. “I have had to cut corners to sustain my sanity — cutting my prayer time, drastically reduced my sleep time and often skipping meals and also my exercise time, just to keep house and up to date with work.

“I had to make peace with myself and slowly began to realise that whatever I am destined to do as a householder and a teacher, is my karma and my prayer. My prayer is inherent in what I do to help the lives of others. “My current goals are to ensure undergraduates and postgraduates complete their studies in the minimum time, without having to experience major challenges during this difficult period. These are more important than my own needs right now. “I still have a desire to become an Associate Professor, however, the road is not easy and the avenues to facilitate this process have been put on hold because of the overwhelming changes I currently encounter to get by each day.”