Exploring the city is all fun and games until you realise you left your purse, wallet, or phone in a cab
life and living1 hour ago
Reenu Augustine, an emergency nurse from Alappuzha district of Kerala, has joined the Covid-19 medical mission in the UAE leaving her four-month-old baby at home in India. "Saving the lives of people affected by the virus is more important," said the mother of two children. Her elder daughter is four.
"It breaks my heart to leave my baby home with my husband and parents. He is too small. But I think this is the time the world requires my service the most. I am sacrificing my happiness for a larger cause: the common good of humanity," she told Khaleej Times, as some 105 medical staff from Kerala landed in the UAE on Wednesday. They will serve the country, which is home to some 3.5 million Indians. This is the second batch of nurses to arrive in the UAE after initial 88 staff of Aster DM Healthcare joined frontline duties last week.
However, the decision to come to the UAE as part of the medical mission was not easy for Reenu.
"My family was very worried over me getting infected. It took me some time to convince them about the safety measures in hospitals."
Reenu stressed she can't live in fear of getting infected.
"What would have been the condition of the world if the healthcare frontline warriors nurtured this thought? We know our services are invaluable and indispensable during this time of distress. It is no time to turn back to safety. It is the time that we defend and contain the virus. All healthcare workers around the world are waiting for that day to come. They are working and dreaming about it. And it is not too far," she averred.
'Biggest challenge of my life'
Muhammed Raid, a respiratory therapist, is on his first trip abroad and never imagined it would be for such a big mission. He hopes his experience of treating Covid-19 and Nipah patients in Kerala will come in handy.
"I hail from Kozhikode district and was on the frontline during Nipah virus outbreak in 2018. In past few months, I have taken care of Covid-19 patients."
Kerala was among the first states in India to respond to the Covid-19 outbreak with preventive measures.
Raid noted it was an emotional moment for many of the staff, who like him came to the Gulf for the first time.
"I know this is the biggest challenge of my life. I am single and my parents were very happy to see me be a part of the mission," he said.
'I got stuck in India for 70 days'
Sheba Pradeep, nurse manager, critical care, Burjeel Medical City, was stuck in India due to the lockdown. There were 30 others who were in a similar situation and returned now. "I went on a 17-day leave on March 9 and got stuck there for 70 days. There was no way to return and VPS Healthcare arranged this trip."
The second batch of 105 medics from #India arrives in #UAE for the #Covid19 mission. The #UAE-based VPS Healthcare bought the team of nurses, doctors, and paramedics, on a specially chartered #EtihadAirways. https://t.co/ywP3eNYDUuSheba like rest of the staff took a PCR test in Kochi and again after landing in Abu Dhabi. She will rejoin work once the Covid-19 test result is out.
Video by Ryan Lim@cgidubai @IndembAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/ttbGWkkIId
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) May 20, 2020
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