Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed comforts doctor whose husband died on Covid-19 front line in UAE

Dr Sudhir Rambhau Washimkar, 61 — contracted Covid-19 in May while working as an internal medicine specialist at Burjeel Royal Hospital in Al Ain.

Dr Varsha Washimkar was sitting alone in her apartment — thinking of her husband who lost his life serving Covid patients — when she received a comforting call.

On the other line was His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who recently called the families of frontliners who died in the line of Covid duty.

During the phone conversation, Sheikh Mohamed expressed thanks and appreciation for the great role the fallen heroes played in combatting the pandemic. The Emirati community will never forget their sacrifices, he said.

Dr Varsha’s husband — Dr Sudhir Rambhau Washimkar, 61 — contracted Covid-19 in May while working as an internal medicine specialist at Burjeel Royal Hospital in Al Ain. He breathed his last on June 6 after nearly a month of treatment.

He left behind a grieving wife, who is a general practitioner at the Abu Dhabi Police Clinic in Al Ain, as well as two sons — Siddharth, 29, and Rahul, 25 — who are also doctors and are working in India.

“I got a call from the Ruler’s office, saying the Crown Prince would like to speak to me. And then he called at around 6pm, showering heaps of praises for my husband and our family for being on the frontlines and serving the UAE with our heart and soul. It was such a beautiful and unbelievable gesture that I will cherish all my life,” said Dr Varsha.

The call lasted a few minutes, she added. “There was so much concern in His Highness’ voice as he said he was grateful for the effort my husband had put to serve the country he called home for the last 12 years.”

Sheikh Mohamed’s kind words left the doctor speechless.