UAE: This Emirati woman led a team that attended to 7K Covid patients

Abu Dhabi - During the Covid peak, Seha’s Haifa Salem and her team attended to patients at Al Rahba and Al Mafraq hospital

Managing a team and keeping the morale high at all times is tough, but doing so during an unprecedented pandemic requires true guts and leadership. And Seha’s Haifa Salem Al Nahdi has managed to do it all even during the darkest days — with a smile!

During the Covid peak, the chief medical officer at Al Dhafra Region, Seha (Abu Dhabi Health Services Company), was an incident commander of two hospitals and managed attending to 7,000 Covid patients with her team. The mortality rate at her facilities was less than 1 per cent. Al Nahdi managed teams at both Al Rahba and Al Mafraq hospitals, overseeing more than 500 beds of acute and ICU cases and more than 300 employees. Her faith in leadership, commitment to serve her people and community, and belief in herself is what kept her going and empowered her to take the right decisions.

Al Nahdi has always been passionate about serving the community. “As a physician and a chief medical officer, my main goal is to serve the community and help patients, regardless of the background or the disease. Whether there is a crisis or not, our main goal is to ensure customer satisfaction, patients’ satisfaction and to heal. I chose to become a medical practitioner because I have passion to help the community.”

The role is challenging and has become more so during the pandemic. Asked how she strikes a balance, Al Nahdi said: “It was much easier when I was single. However, with a family — and especially during the pandemic — you are afraid to carry the disease to your loved ones.

“Meanwhile, I am sure that women everywhere can manage different managerial jobs, responsibilities despite all challenges.”

Nevertheless, it always boils down to one’s support network. “My family is my biggest support, especially my husband. Being a physician is not easy. We are 24 hours on call. We sometimes have to take calls post-midnight, or leave our houses too, which can be challenging on the personal front. But I have full support from my family and my husband. Moreover, my seniors and the faculty at the hospital are always there. I also have received all support from Seha. They helped me succeed in different managerial roles and during my career journey. The support to all Emirati women from the Rulers of the UAE and Sheikha Fatima for more than 35 years has been incredible. People believe in the potential of the women, and Emirati women specifically.”

(This interview is in partnership with Frontline Heroes Office.)