Meet the Indian nurses on landmark mission to the UAE
SIXTY OF THEM ARE ICU SPECIALISTS ROPED IN FROM ASTER HOSPITALS
Anewly-wed woman, mothers who had to leave their children behind and sons who left their aged parents to take care for themselves — these are among the first batch of male and female Indian nurses, who have flown into the UAE to help combat Covid-19.
A total of 88 medics with the Aster DM Healthcare Group, who landed in Dubai on May 9, are now being deployed at various locations. They were flown in on a special flight after they received special permission from the Indian and UAE authorities.
Sixty of them are ICU nurses who have been roped in from Aster hospitals in three Indian states to serve at various Covid-19 intensive care facilities in Dubai, said Dr Azad Moopen, founder chairman and managing director of Aster DM Healthcare.
After a week of quarantine and one more round of Covid-19 negative results, the nurses began an orientation programme last Sunday. The deployment to their assigned facilities began yesterday.
“A large number of them are going to hospitals under the Dubai Health Authority,” Dr Moopen told Gulf News ina phone interview.
Though there is a financial advantage in undertaking the special mission, Dr Moopen said most of them were interested in coming over because of the opportunity to serve Dubai during the pandemic.
Dr. Moopen said there is a requirement for more healthcare professionals in the UAE.
“We have submitted to the authorities that we will be able to provide another 100200 nurses. We have already identified 100 people in India who have expressed their willingness to come. We are ready to support the UAE authorities if there is a requirement,” he said.