Iraq’s coronavirus crooner a hit with patients
The gentle songs of an Iraqi health worker are easing the suffering of coronavirus patients at a hospital in the southern city of Basra.
Videos of Mohamed Karim’s unique bedside manner have gone viral on social media, with people all over the world lauding his acts of kindness.
Mr Karim, a medical laboratory assistant at Basra’s Port General Hospital, told The National he could empathise with coronavirus patients because he too contracted the disease and had to self-isolate. He said it was a traumatic experience.
“Singing is my way of comforting patients, especially those with coronavirus because there is no vaccination, so the words of the songs, the tune, the melody lifts their spirits,” Mr Karim said.
His touching performances earned him a certificate of appreciation from the health ministry. But Mr Karim said he was not trying to seek attention or acclaim.
“When patients in the Covid-19 wards tell the doctors and specialists that Mohamed is healing us with his voice, this fulfils my purpose in life and that is all I want,” he said.
One of the videos shows Mr Karim, wearing a hazmat suit, singing to an elderly woman infected with the disease. It is a famous song about a mother’s love by Iraqi singer Saadoun Jaber.
At the end of the video, the patient becomes emotional and starts to cry.
Social media users thanked the “white army”, a popular hashtag that refers to doctors and medical staff, who have often been praised as saviours throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Karim, who has worked for more than a decade in Basra’s healthcare system, said the hospital sometimes calls him in on days off because patients refuse to take their medication from anyone else.
“A female patient told me that the staff attempted to give her a drip but she was hurt. She said, ‘where have you been? ‘Why weren’t you here?’”
As soon as Mr Karim walks into the hospital he starts singing traditional Iraqi folk songs, and patients immediately call to attract his attention.
“Through the songs the patients feel safe, secure and hopeful. They become alive again and that’s how I can connect and engage with them,” he said.
“This is the basis of what I do and what pushes me to help others.”
Later in the month, he will record a song with Iraqi singer Saif Khyun dedicated to health workers battling Covid-19. Iraq has nearly 82,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 3,345 people have died.