Tue, Nov 05, 2024 | Jumada al-Awwal 3, 1446 | DXB ktweather icon0°C

Top Stories

Supplied photo

Supplied photo

Covid: UAE nurses volunteer to support US frontliners

Abu Dhabi - They will be sharing their knowledge and experience in tackling Covid with their peers at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

Published: Thu 18 Feb 2021, 1:58 PM

Updated: Thu 18 Feb 2021, 2:02 PM

A team of eight nurses from Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has flown to the US to spend six weeks with caregivers on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nimeh Mahmoud, a nurse on the neurological intensive care team of the Abu Dhabi hospital, said that when she got the call asking whether she would be interested to volunteer in the US, she did not think twice. “I became a nurse to help people in need and give back to the community. So, when I was told that there was an opportunity to help my colleagues in the US, I could not refuse,” she added.


Mahmoud and her colleagues in the UAE Capital will be working with healthcare professionals at Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital in Ohio.

Jennifer Yeckley, who is part of the wound and stomal care team at the Abu Dhabi hospital, said she would be sharing her experience and expertise in treating Covid-19 patients in the UAE with the US team.

“During the peak of the pandemic, we learnt a lot about the positioning of patients while they recovered. I’m looking forward to sharing that knowledge and learning more from my peers at Cleveland Clinic.”

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s collaboration with the US-based Cleveland Clinic during this time highlights the international confidence in Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector, proving the skills and competence of its medical workforce. The step also comes in line with the UAE’s continuous efforts to provide assistance to other countries around the world.

“Nurses have played a critical role during the pandemic by providing direct assistance and raising awareness among patients and communities,” said Sue Behrens, chief nursing officer at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

“Having been on the front lines of care for the sickest patients during the peak of the pandemic in the Emirates, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s nursing workforce has gained the crucial knowledge and treatment skills required to address the pressing needs of patients in the US and are ready to support their counterparts where and when it is needed the most.”

The team of volunteers included nurses from a range of specialities, including stroke care, neurological and surgical intensive care, and patient education, the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office added.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com



Next Story