Call of duty takes nurses from Kerala to West Asia

Suja Verghese, a nurse working in Saudi Arabia for the final 10 years, had come residence to Kottayam on a five-month go away in March to finish a listing of pending work. But it was to not be.

The hospital known as requesting her to affix work instantly. And on Saturday, she was amongst 239 medics who took a particular flight to Saudi Arabia from Cochin.

Earlier on Thursday one other flight carrying 219 medical professionals, primarily nurses, had left for Saudi Arabia. Last week 89 well being staff flew to the United Arab Emirates. Three extra such flights carrying nurses are anticipated this week.

Many Gulf nations who’re determined have cancelled leaves of medical staff and a few of skilled who had left their jobs have been known as again.

“It is fact the nurses from Kerala are most sought after all over the world. Like Prime Minister Modi said we should convert crises into opportunities. There is a great demand for trained nurses these days, especially from the Gulf. If they are willing the country should allow them to go,” stated a senior authorities official concerned in facilitating the return of medical staff.

“This initiative reflects the relationship between India and the Middle East countries and their commitment to support each other in time of crisis. It is our duty to provide best medical professionals during the Covid crisis,” stated Dr. Azad Moopen, managing director of Aster DM Healthcare that despatched 60 of their educated nurses to the UAE final week.

According to the Nurses Council of India amongst 20 lakh registered nurses not less than 15 lakh are from Kerala. “At least two lakh of our nurses are abroad. Other than the Gulf, they are also in the US, Europe, Australia and other countries. Nurses from Kerala are most sought after. It is one of the least paid jobs in the country which is why so many leave for greener pastures,” stated United Nurses Association common secretary Sujanapal Achuththan. Besides being service-oriented, nurses from Kerala wish to take challenges head on, he stated.

“In health and hospitality the state has a glorious history. Nurses are ready to go to any place if service calls. In 2014 the country had saved 46 nurses from the Islamic State-held areas in Iraq. It was only then that people realised that Kerala’s nurses were serving in hostile areas also,” he stated.

Nurses could also be frontline warriors within the struggle in opposition to Covid-19 however they are saying their cries are sometimes not heard. Like the case of nurses in Israel. At least 82 stranded nurses in Israel, a few of them in superior stage of being pregnant, are set to fly again subsequent week after their plight got here to mild throughout a phone-in programme performed by a Malayalam information channel Asianet. Some of them had damaged down throughout the programme.

“Service is in our blood. Kerala’s social background has helped us to imbibe true spirit. Monetary part apart, we love to take challenges and duty comes first to us. If the Gulf needs more health workers we should despatch the willing ones,” stated Marina Jose, one of many nurses who was evacuated from war-torn Iraq.