88 Indian Nurses Deployed To UAE As Aid Amidst COVID-19 Start Work

A batch of 88 male and female Indian nurses have started working in UAE, where they have been dispatched to help combat the spread of coronavirus. This is the first batch of Indian nurses that had landed in the country earlier this month to help out during the pandemic. After completing one week of quarantine and testing negative for COVID-19 the nurses began their orientation program on Sunday.

India and the UAE are showing how a strategic partnership translates into concrete cooperation on the ground in dealing with this pandemic

After a drastic spur in cases in UAE, the government offered aid considering lagging number of healthcare professionals, ICU doctors, nurses, and equipment. Pavan Kapoor, India’s Ambassador to UAE, told Economic Times, “India and the UAE are showing how a strategic partnership translates into concrete cooperation on the ground in dealing with this pandemic. Helping a friend in need is the motto of cooperation between our two countries”. The nurses come from Aster DM Healthcare hospitals from the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

As nurses we need to take up our job with a smiling face and we are here to help people suffering from a deadly disease

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The Newly-wed Corona Warrior

The youngest among these nurses is a 25-year old woman, Ashley Jayson. While Jayson got married just a few months ago, that didn't deter her from committing to this mission. In an interview with the Gulf News she thanked her husband Jojy John for supporting her decision. "For each and every nurse, this is a challenging situation worldwide. Being part of such a mission is really challenging and needs a lot of courage. I firmly believe all of us will remain courageous and we are very happy to work for DHA and make Aster proud of us," said she.

When duty calls

It must not have been an easy decision for Stephanie Newton to leave behind her three children in Bengaluru, the youngest being just one-year-old, in care of her husband and family. But Newton took this difficult step because for her, duty comes first. “As nurses we need to take up our job with a smiling face and we are here to help people suffering from a deadly disease," said she.

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COVID-19 has claimed 328,000 lives so far globally. In UAE alone the number of confirmed cases is past 25000 which is increasing at a rapid pace. Owing to the presence of millions of Indians in the Gulf countries, the Indian government has extended medical support to the region. The second batch of nurses landed in UAE on May 20 and will join the healthcare workforce once they complete their quarantine period and training.

Picture Credit: PTI

Simran Dhawan is an intern with SheThePeople.TV