Muscat: It was the height of the second wave in Oman and ICU Staff Nurse at Badr Al Samaa Group of Hospitals was pregnant with her second child. But this brave soul did not give up her post and continued to treat Covid-19 patients and provide them with the support they needed to recover.
Times TV caught up with Nurse Suman Mamachan for a conversation on the 51st National Day, as part of the Unsung Heroes series.
“Nurses according to me are the main support staff as doctors treat the patients. We (my team) is responsible for providing specialised care for Covid-19 patients in the ICU. So for us, it was a dual job. We had to take care of ourselves as well as the safety of the patients, relatives and others.”
On the grief of losing a patient, she said, “I have had to stand as a family member, as a councillor, a mentor and as someone who can provide physical and emotional support. In some cases, dying patients couldn’t even be with their loved ones. We would hold their hands and say our own prayers for them. Through it all, I learnt the values of responsibility, care, love, kindness and courage.”
Exhausted, weak and tired on most days, Nurse Mamachan would often get help from health workers, other patients and bystanders in convincing new patients to trust the medical care being provided. “Some patients would come to the ICU and would be very panicky. We would convince them to let us help.”
But for her, the biggest challenge was during the second wave. “My family, including my husband and my 5-year-old daughter are also here. During the second wave, I was pregnant with my second child. But I continued Covid-19 duty. We had not even had our vaccinations then. I am thankful for the support of my ICU doctors, colleagues and team who worked hard to ensure that I was supported physically and emotionally during this time.”
