AR
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Frontline heroes like Dr Omniyat Al Hajeri served as the backbone of the UAE’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in the past few months.
Since the onset of the pandemic crisis in the country, hundreds of frontline workers like her have been working behind the scenes to contain the outbreak.
Dr Al Hajeri received massive support from her family during the period. A mother of six children, the healthcare professional was able to play a splendid role in the UAE's response to the pandemic.
On Emirati Mother’s Day, the Executive Director of the Community Health Sector at Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC), spoke about the challenges she faced during the pandemic and her journey so far.
In an interview with the Khaleej Times, Dr Al Hajeri noted that she always wanted to be a doctor.
"I was very attached to my grandparents, and I lost them all due to medical causes that I believed could have been avoided. I wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives and help them enjoy longer times with their loved ones,” she said.
She hailed the Emirati culture of respect, kindness and service that inspired her to take on a career in healthcare. During the pandemic crisis, Dr Al Hajeri put her medical experience and expertise to optimum use to save the lives of thousands of people in the country.
“As the pandemic unfolded, containing its impact on the community at large was critical. Response plans and protocols were put in place even before the first case was registered in the UAE, early action based on international reports made a huge difference,” she added.
She underlined that Abu Dhabi authorities introduced home isolation and quarantine measures that critically helped in containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region.
Additional proactive measures were implemented by relevant authorities in collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) such as home isolation services through WhatsApp, community outreach programmes to ensure preventative and healthcare services at the doorsteps for high-risk people and special groups, home delivery of medicines, at-home PCR tests and vaccination services and remote care programmes.
Community health experts undertook the mission to ensure that no one was left behind during the efforts. The experts also attempted to maintain a work-life balance during the battle against the pandemic.
“For any mother, balancing between your professional and personal life can be difficult, and as the pandemic shifted the dynamics of our daily lives, finding this balance became even more challenging," she added.
Being a mother and a frontliner, Dr Al Hajeri overcame her guilt while spending long hours on the field for the “greater good” of nation. She understood that the pandemic required her to be at the frontline and dedicate her time to serving the nation.
“As a mother, the feeling of guilt for me is inevitable, as I want to give both my family and my work as much as I can. However, I always reminded myself that this time and effort I am dedicating is for a greater good – and that is the good of my society, community and country, and my family is part of that. This, along with my family’s unwavering support and motivation, kept me going, and helped me overcome the feeling of guilt, fatigue and much more,” she said.
She further lauded all frontliners as soldiers who worked together to do whatever it takes to protect the UAE and its community during the pandemic crisis.
According to Dr Al Hajeri, the pandemic has shed light on the importance of the role of Emirati women in the healthcare sector.
“I believe it is important to recognise how far we’ve come and the impact we have created as women in medicine, but I think this is only the beginning. I hope that the progress we have made together over the past two years have inspired the next generation of medical professionals,” she underlined.
Noting that healthcare and medicine (in general) are a beautiful mix between science, art, philosophy and creativity, she exclaimed that it is touching human life to make it better, despite all the challenges.
Dr Al Hajeri is a specialist in the fields of public health and leadership, diabetes, endocrinology, and metabolic diseases. She has spent more than 20 years as a consultant at many hospitals in Abu Dhabi.
In a message to the youth aspiring to take on a career in medicine, Dr Al Hajeri said while the journey is challenging, it is one that requires complete dedication, hard work and commitment to serve others.
"However, the reward is fulfilling, and to know that you are helping your community and are contributing to the health of current and future generations is a blessing," she added.
In conclusion, she pointed out that all community members have a role to play in making the world a better place, adding that she is doing her bit with medicine. She also praised the inspiring vision of the UAE leadership that motivate people at the forefront of national efforts.
“I feel that I can fulfil this role by contributing my knowledge and expertise to the better of our society and our nation. The inspiring vision of our leadership that puts people at the forefront as well as the amazing colleagues that I work with every day continue to be a strong motivation as I progress in this journey,” she added.
SOURCE: Khaleej Times