Iftar on the job: For this nurse, a fasting day is very busy

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Iftar on the job: For this nurse, a fasting day is very busy

Another nurse from a less busier department is brought in to cover for Ameena as she breaks her fast.

by

Asma Ali Zain

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Published: Sun 19 May 2019, 10:00 PM

Last updated: Mon 20 May 2019, 9:09 AM

Ameenah Khan Ajmal, a nurse in the paediatric ward of Aster Hospital in Al Qusais, is the only one fasting in her ward. She has been assigned a shift which makes it easier for her to manage her busy work day during Ramadan.
"We work in three shifts starting from early morning. For Ramadan, the timings are two hours lesser," she says.
"But since I am the only one fasting, they've given me the morning shift so that I can be home for Iftar."
However, since the paediatric ward is among the busiest in the hospital, she has to extend her duty hours on some days. "In such instances, Iftar and even Suhoor are served in the hospital," she explained. "And I am given from 30 minutes to an hour to have my Iftar meal."
Another nurse from a less busier department is brought in to cover for Ameena as she breaks her fast.
Ameena said her fasting day is "very busy". "Children can keep you occupied for long," she said. "For example, if you need five minutes to give medicine to an adult, you need 15 for children."
In the ward, she nurses children with all kinds of problems back to health.
"Sometimes, sick children are not in the best of moods and you need lots of patience to deal with them."
Ameena, who is from India, has an 18-month-old daughter whom she leaves at home. "Normally, I reach home early and in time for Iftar, unless of course, there is an emergency," she said, adding that Iftar time with the family was important. She, however, said that working as a nurse meant she cannot complete her prayers on time.
"Our uniforms become dirty on the job and then it is not possible to pray in those clothes," she said.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com


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