On the medical frontline, they are an important component of the superheroes making immense sacrifices and showing tremendous commitment and dedication to containing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fight against the coronavirus has thrust nurses worldwide in the spotlight and revealed to one and all the noble work they do as they risk their own lives to save others.

Mohd Erwan Juslin, head nurse at the Nutrition Unit, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya Health Department, has not seen his wife and three children aged two to 10, who live in Perlis, since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was imposed on March 18.

Mohd Erwan, who is among the healthcare frontliners carrying out COVID-19 screenings at the Lembah Pantai district health centre here, said he usually visited his family once a week but job demands and movement restrictions under MCO prevented him from seeing them.

“I yearn to see them but I can only make phone and video calls to them to heal my homesickness. I feel sad but I know I need to be strong in order to perform my duties well,” he told Bernama.

Mohd Erwan, who is from Beaufort, Sabah, is married to Zurina Hamdan who is also a nurse and is currently attached to the Haemodialysis Unit at Hospital Tuanku Fauziah in Kangar.

Stressing that working amid this pandemic has been the most challenging experience in his 15-year nursing career Mohd Erwan said his mental and physical endurance is being put to the test.

“Now in the month of Ramadan, it has become even more challenging… we have to continue screening people as new clusters are being detected.

“Just imagine having to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while fasting. Just an hour after wearing it, we find ourselves drenched in sweat due to the heat and feel thirsty too. So the challenge is even greater for us during the fasting month,” he said.

He believes that the blessings of the holy month have given him the strength to continue working and to date, all screening work at the health centre has been proceeding smoothly.

He himself has had to undergo a COVID-19 test as he had been in contact with a confirmed case. Fortunately, he was tested negative.

Mohd Erwan also said he could not help worrying about his wife as she is at times indirectly exposed to the virus when COVID-19 patients are required to undergo dialysis at her unit.

Meanwhile, he is relieved that rules under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) have been eased to allow interstate travel for married couples living apart in different states. This was announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in his live address on Sunday. He said this decision was made after taking into consideration couples who work in different states.

“This is the news I’ve been eagerly awaiting this Ramadan month as Aidilfitri is not far away,” added Mohd Erwan.

Mothers, meanwhile, will go to any extent to protect their families and this is exactly what Siti Zaleha Zahabah, a nurse at a private clinic in Damansara, is doing.

She is currently volunteering her services for the Selangor Health Department and since she is required to carry out COVID-19 screenings, she has chosen to stay apart from her husband and three daughters aged between seven and 11 as she does not want them exposed to any risk of infection.

She is now putting up at a hostel at the National Institute of Health complex in Setia Alam, Selangor, while her family is living in another part of the state.

Siti Zaleha, who is grateful to her husband and their extended families for giving her their full support, said she was involved in carrying out screenings at quarantine centres and even in areas such as the Kuala Lumpur Wholesale Market and Selayang Baru which were placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order.

“In the 10 years I’ve worked as a nurse, this is definitely a new experience for me. Besides being exposed to the risk of infection, we also need to help to allay the fears of those individuals placed in the persons under surveillance category,” she said.

She also urged frontliners, especially nurses, to stay strong and continue to sacrifice their time and energy and set aside their personal feelings in the battle against COVID-19 for the sake of the people and nation.

Of late, so many stories have been emerging about the struggles and sacrifices of nurses. Among them are reports of retired nurses ready to make a comeback and willing to extend a helping hand to the frontliners who are working tirelessly to stem the transmission of COVID-19.

The most outstanding among them has to be former hospital matron Biby Maideen, 68, who said she discussed the matter with her four children before submitting her application to the Ministry of Health (MOH).

According to media reports, MOH had received applications from about 3,000 retired nurses to serve at the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There was also a touching 1.40-second video that went viral on social media, showing a woman dressed as a nurse crying outside her house as she cannot go near her family members. The nurse is seen wiping her tears as her mother advises her to take care while on duty and to place her trust in God.

Wishing all nurses a happy International Nurses Day. May this global celebration highlight the enormous sacrifices and contributions of nurses who play a key role in bringing safe, quality healthcare to people around the world.

-- BERNAMA