Country comes first for families of frontliners
KEPALA BATAS: When Zakiah Ahmad’s daughter was deployed to be on duty at one of the Covid-19 quarantine centres, her heart said “no, don’t go.”
“It is very hard to let her go, but that is her responsibility. I must leave my own feelings aside. What I can do is to pray that she will always be protected and safe,” said the septuagenarian of her daughter Kapt (PA) Widiana Mohd Ani, a Civil Defence Force personnel member.
Zakiah, 72, said Widiana’s three children were staying with her in Bertam here.
“They have not seen their mother for almost two weeks. We only kept in touch with her through phone and video calls since the first day of the movement control order (MCO),” she said.
Trying to hold back tears, Zakiah said she hoped the crisis would be over soon.
“I pray that the virus will stop spreading, so my daughter can finally come back home to the family,” she said.
Widiana, who has been working with the government agency for eight years, is on duty at one of Penang’s quarantine centres in Jawi, Nibong Tebal.
The 39-year-old officer has three children – Lukman Rifqi Ahmad Isuraqi, 11, Dian Adelia Ahmad Isuraqi, eight, and Amar Fateh Ahmad Isuraqi, six.
In George Town, Noor Shafawati A. Aziz, 35, said she tried to be calm since her policeman husband was assigned to be on duty during the MCO.
“After being married to my husband for 12 years, I am somehow accustomed to life as a police officer’s wife.
“But I still worry as I know the virus can infect anyone and as a frontliner, my husband is at risk of being in contact with the disease.
“I understand that his responsibility to the country is important and always advise him to take precautionary measures,” she said.
Noor Shafawati, who works as a nurse in a government clinic, also said her three children understood the nature of their father’s job.
For S. Sagunthalai, 51, the Covid19 outbreak has been a stressful time for her as she is worried about her daughter S. Puvaneess, who works as a screening nurse in Penang Gleneagles Hospital.
“Sometimes, the anxiety I get can be overwhelming.
“When you have children working as frontliners in the hospital, fear and worry are always on your mind.
“I fear for my daughter’s health and that she may get infected since she may be exposed to people who have contracted the virus,” she said.
Sagunthalai said Puvaneess, 22, who has been working at the hospital for three years, always advised her to practise good hand hygiene, make sure that the house is clean and practise social distancing at all times.
“I miss spending time with her. Now, we keep in touch through video calls,” she added.
The family of Suraya Sungit, 39, a nurse at Pantai Hospital Penang, also shares the same sentiment.
Her husband, who only wished to be known as Hazwar, however, said as head of the family, he must remain calm and strong in taking care of their children during this period.
“Of course we are worried but we believe that she executed her job well by wearing proper protective clothing.
“She also practises a high level of hygiene to prevent herself from being infected at the workplace.
“Our family is proud that one of us is working at the frontline to fight against the virus,” he said.