‘Baby swabbed, a painful experience’
Watching our baby getting swabbed twice is a painful experience, says frontliner couple.
The couple, Shaneel Nand and Vashna Singh, are both nurses at the Nadi Hospital.
They could still remember how they had to rush to the quarantine centre together with their two-year and sixmonths-old son after being advised by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to quarantine as they were possible COVID-19 close contacts.
One June 6 they were taken into Hilton quarantine facility in Nadi and were kept in one room for 14 days.
“As a mother it was very challenging to see Vansh Nand, my only child getting swabbed,” Mrs Singh said.
“It was the first time for us as a family to be kept in closed doors for two weeks.
“After being tested negative we returned home and resumed work after a few days,” Mrs Singh said.
“There are many untold stories of frontliners who also have families and are in quarantine.”
Mr Nand said they motivated each other to stay calm.
“It wasn’t easy to be in quarantine but we had to remind ourselves that this was a necessity for the safety of thousands in Fiji,” Mr Nand said.
“Indeed we were accommodated very well and able to cook food for our son and keep him occupied so that he does not miss home.”
He said for them as frontliners they could not compromise safety as Delta Variant was deadly.
“I would like to advise others in quarantine right now not to be disheartened. The procedures in place are for the safety of everyone and lets us work together to make Fiji a safe place to live in.”
Both the frontliners are from Sigatoka and have 11 years in the nursing profession after graduating in 2010.