Dealing with C the Heartbrea
For 24 years, the late Asela Kulailagi Tuicicia dedicated her life to serving the people of Fiji.
For 24 years, the late Asela Tuicicia dedicated her to serving the people of Fiji.
Ms Tuicicia was one of the two medical workers at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital who succumbed to the deadly COVID-19 Delta variant.
The other was registered Suliana Bulavakarua.
Ms Tuicicia was a midwife. Ms Bulavakarua was an operating theatre nurse. Ms Bulavakarua was eight months pregnant when she contracted the virus.
On July 25, 2021 Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services Dr James Fong said it was likely that more healthcare workers would be affected by this virus.
“This virus has and will continue to affect our health care workers from community transmission and through the course of duty,” he said,
“We know that community transmission in Suva-Nausori is at such a high level, that it is more likely that a healthcare worker will pick up the virus in the community than in hospital when they are wearing full personal protective equipment.” called his wife regarded her work as a calling.
“She hardly goes on sick leave. I tell her often to rest, but she wouldn’t. If I can recall correctly it was after a long time since she took a three days sick leave last week,” an emotional Mr Tuicicia said.
“Even when they are short staffed, when she gets the call, she goes.”
Ms Tuicicia only spent two years at the Lautoka Hospital and the rest at the CWM Hospital.
Mr Tuicicia said her colleagues at the Maternity Ward remembered his wife as someone who was thorough in her work.
“If she knows she can deliver a baby to prevent a caesarian section, she will do it.”
COVID-19 TAKES CONTROL
Ms Tuicicia was unvaccinated when she passed away. Mr Tuicicia believes this contributed to his wife’s death.
Mr Tuicicia works at the Government pharmacy at Bayley Bridge. He’s been fully vaccinated.
He had also tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday last week (23 July) – two days after his wife tested positive. But Mr Tuicicia is asymptomatic.
However, his wife had lost her sense of taste and smell on Tuesday (20 July). She tested positive the next day.
She had also started developing shortness of breath. This was peculiar, Mr Tucicia said.
He said his wife had no underly