Army of volunteers join the fight against Covid-19
▶ Residents from various countries and backgrounds are giving their time to help defeat Covid-19
Volunteers in the UAE have told of their pride at taking on crucial roles in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
From taking calls from worried residents on the Covid-19 hotline to working in testing centres, thousands of people have given their time and dedication to the cause.
On Thursday, the government said 18,740 volunteers had signed up so far, with opportunities for more to join.
Volunteers give at least six hours of their time each week and anyone spending time with Covid-19 patients is tested regularly for infection.
Among those on the front lines is wife and husband team Walaa Mazen Al Saed, 30, and Ammar Adam, 38.
Ms Al Saed, a Syrian resident, volunteers at the testing centre in Al Bahia, while her husband volunteers at Mussaffah screening centre, one of the busiest in the country. They have three children and their youngest is not yet 2.
Ms Al Saed registers people as they arrive for testing and sends them to booths, where medics take swabs.
“I have been living abroad for 13 years and the last time I visited Syria was five years ago,” she said.
“What I would do for Syria, I would gladly do for this country, which has taken me in and has given me everything.”
Her husband works for a government authority from 7.30am to 3.30pm. After work, he heads for Mussaffah, where he volunteers until 2am.
“I have been here 17 years. We are one community,” he said.
“These are special circumstances and this is the least I can do for the country, to finally be able to give back a small portion of what they have given us.”
Sanker Srikumar , 40, is chief executive of health and safety consultancy Green World Group, which has offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India and Africa.
A lifelong trainer of people in dangerous fields, he volunteered to clean ambulances at first, but was instead offered a place at the Covid-19 field hospital at Dubai Parks and Resorts.
“I was ready to do anything,” he said.
He manages registration for people arriving at the field hospital. “Volunteering for a field hospital was not by compulsion, it was rather on humanitarian and passionate grounds, as a way of giving back to this great nation and its people,” he said.
Marse Macatangay, 42, from the Philippines, works at Abu Dhabi’s helpline, Istijaba, or Response. Each day she answers calls, often from people anxious about the virus.
People ask her whether they should get tested and she listens as they reel off various symptoms and advises them on what to do.
“I want to be of help to the community and I think I am helping, without putting myself and family at risk,” said the mother of two, who moved to the Emirates in 2009.
Egyptian resident Mohamed Youssef, 31, was an ambulance co-ordinator at a private hospital when the virus hit.
The father of one was placed on leave and straight away signed up to help.
He volunteers at a screening centre on the Corniche, registering people as they arrive.
“Would it be right to leave a country in its time of need? When they stopped work, I thought there was no better way to serve the country than volunteering,” said Mr Youssef.
Ismail Al Bloushi, from the Comoro Islands, was the first person you would see when you arrived at Sharjah’s main screening centre. He was part of the triage team that managed potential patients.
“It is one of the best experiences ever, because when this is over, you will look back and remember that you have helped the UAE fight the enemy – you would have helped to end Covid-19 here,” he said.
“It was scary at first, but if we all think like that then no one will fight this virus.”