Nurses from India fly back with valuable lessons and beautiful memories
FIRST BATCH OF HEALTH CARE STAFF DEPLOYED IN UAE TO COMBAT COVID-19 SHARE EXPERIENCES
First batch of 88 Covid-19 warriors share stories and anecdotes of their assignments during their special UAE deployment
They received a hero’s welcome when they flew in from India to join the UAE’s war against the coronavirus on May 9. The first batch of Covid-19 warriors are now returning after a successful mission that offered them challenging moments and cheerful memories.
A total of 88 medics were flown in from Kochi in Kerala in a tie-up with Aster DM Healthcare group with the support from the Indian Consulate and the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Sixty of them are ICU nurses, who were roped in from Aster hospitals in three Indian states to serve at various Covid-19 intensive care facilities in Dubai. While 37 of them will be locally absorbed by the group, the rest began returning in batches starting on Thursday.
Before catching their flights home, some of these nurses spoke exclusively to Gulf News and shared the inside stories of their assignments during their special deployment.
Counselling and recreation
Mary Steffi, a 24-year-old emergency department nurse at Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, is the youngest in the group and was deputed at a field hospital. Mary said medics working inside the facility did not feel pressured at any point. “The situation was under control there as most of the cases were moderate.”
However, with patients worried about their positive status, medics had to help counsel them too. “Also, they were kept entertained with facilities for playing board games, table tennis and even a piano. There was a Filipino patient, who would play piano in the mornings. Everyone loved it,” she said.
Mohammad Rabin, 25, an emergency medicine staff nurse from Aster MIMS in Calicut, Kerala, who also worked at a field hospital, said, “The posting turned out to be a great experience. We got the experience of working with people of other nationalities. I didn’t expect to return home so early. We are sure our experience here will help us continue the fight back home.”
A total of 88 medics were flown in from Kochi in Kerala in a tie-up with Aster DM Healthcare group… While 37 of them will be locally absorbed by the group, the rest began returning in batches starting on Thursday.
Unforgettable moments
Ashly Jason, an emergency department nurse from Aster Med City in Kochi, Kerala, was deputed at a Covid unit in a hospital. Happy that the unit where she worked has now been shut with the situation coming under
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control, Ashly said she can never forget her experience with a Sri Lankan patient.
“He was going to take the first sip of water after being on ventilator for 14 days. He asked me if I can talk to him for some time. Usually, we don’t spend more time with patients. But I did with him as he badly wanted to talk. When I gave him water, I saw him crying. He said water was the tastiest thing he has ever had,” she said.
New mothers
From wearing the full set of PPE for the first time to rescuing pregnant women, who delivered healthy babies while battling complications due to Covid-19, Varsha Kanitkar from Aster Aadhar Hospital in Kolhapur in Maharashtra said it was roller-coaster ride for her.
“When I came here, I was a bit scared initially,” said Varsha, who was posted at a Covid ICU unit of a hospital.
“There were patients, who were on ventilator and were getting dialysis and some stable patients too.”
The patients whom Varsha cannot forget are two new mothers who were rushed to the ICU after their delivery.