Catherine W Gichuki
Doha
MEDICAL profession is considered one of the most humane fields in which the practitioners live their life for the wellbeing of others the patients.
Little wonder the healthcare practitioners put in their best at all times, even while fasting during Ramadan, to ensure that the patients receive the best services and treatment and get well quickly.
The healthcare workers consider their job as a calling that goes beyond just to work for a living but to serve humanity wholeheartedly.
Besides the doctors, there are the likes of the nurses, coordinators, receptionists, who have to remain strong to serve the patients even if they are fasting.
Those are the likes of Sujamol T, a nursing superintendent at Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Center.
"When we receive patients, we forget about everything else and shift our focus onto them. Giving the best treatment to our patients becomes our priority as their safety and care are very important to us," she said.
For Sujamol, even the non-fasting staffers know the importance of showing empathy to the fasting colleagues and patients alike. She said they also have to respect the norms and regulations of the community and stay without food for longer hours.
According to her, they have also learnt to cope with patients who are hesitant to take an injection during Ramadan because they believe the injection would break their fast."When we receive patients during the day, we seek permission from them whether we could give them injection or not. If they are not willing to take the injection, we ask them to come back after iftar, especially when it is not a case of emergency," Sujamol said.
Although they enjoy the privilege of reduced working hours during Ramadan, Staff Nurse and Hygiene Coordinator Shemi Ashim said providing services to the patients gives them more happiness.
Josy Varghese, a staff nurse, underlined the high level of satisfaction that comes with working as a nurse."We feel like we are home and we are able to manage the patients very well," she said.
Receptionist Supervisor Mohammed Ali said that it feels good to attend to the patients."During Ramadan, we receive more patients in the evening compared to the morning hours. Most of the patients who come in the morning complain of fever and cough, while those in the evening complain of stomachache," he said.
Zakir Ahmed, the center coordinator, whose job involves coordinating at the polyclinic with doctors, nurses and patients, stressed the sense of fulfilment he derives from his job. He said that some patients arrive at the facility without being able to walk by themselves and therefore he has to organise for a wheelchair or stretcher for them.
Ahmed further said that patients reach out to him to seek his support about consultations, duty schedules, doctor's timings, where to find what in the facility, besides other things.
"So, my job mainly involves helping people who are suffering. And I feel so happy when I see them satisfied with the service that I offer to them. It is so rewarding when you hear them tell you, 'Thank You' or 'God bless You', after your assistance," he added.