Surgical Nurse Heeds Nightingale Call
Surgical nurse Visha Gounder says she belongs to the fraternity of Nightingales and being called for duty into affected COVID areas is part of her job. With an ambition to become a top surgical nurse for Labasa Hospital Ms Gounder is part of a team that works at the Fiji Emergency Medical Assistance Team (FEMAT) in Lautoka.
The 26-year-old of Wailevu, Labasa, is among 20 medical professionals who left for Lautoka last Friday. The youngest of three siblings and only daughter in the family says she doesn’t compromise standards and holds integrity above all.
“I believe in fairness and if I put my mind to it, I can accomplish all my tasks given to me in a timely manner and in any environment,” Ms Gounder said.
She said she had worked at Lautoka Hospital for two years and returning to Lautoka now and being homesick was not an issue.
She said, while working during this global pandemic she reminded herself that this was a calling which she answered.
“I may be a nurse but I belong to the fraternity of Nightingales,” she said.
“We will answer the call if the situation demands it.
“I believe in teamwork and each of us have our own story to tell.”
Her mother, Sunita Gounder, 48 said anyone who heard the word Coronavirus had fear stirred in their mind.
And when her daughter was informed that she was going to work in a red zone area, she was worried.
She said since her daughter was passionate about her work she was very supportive.
Father, Nitya Gounder, 50, said his daughter was working a 12hour shift.
And with four years of experience in the field, Mr Gounder knew that his daughter was taking precautionary measures seriously. “These days people should not panic,” Mr Gounder said.
“Like my daughter has answered her call, we as parents and citizens of Fiji should simply follow the advise from the Ministry of Health and surely we will be safe,” he added.