She would often miss mealtimes during work hours, but that’s just the selfless person she is, says Aruna Devi of her daughter, nurse Yogeeta Chand.

Ms Chand is among health workers from Labasa deployed to the Western Division to strengthen the medical team there after Lautoka Hospital was on lockdown.

The 25-year-old works in the children’s ward in Labasa Hospital and had been a nurse for five years. Ms Devi said her daughter was living her dream.

The mother of three children said she couldn’t pursue her dream to become a nurse because being the eldest in the family she had to think about others first.

“I have six siblings and all of them are in the medical profession in Australia and New Zealand,” Ms Devi said.

“I am thankful to God that Yogeeta is living my dream.”

Ms Chand’s father, Chandar Deo, a market vendor in Labasa said at first, he refused to send her on deployment.

“She was doing night shift last Wednesday when she came home to pack her clothes and leave around 2:30am,” Mr Deo said.

“I was really worried about how she was going to work in the containment area.

“But she told me that she wanted to help as many patients as possible so that when she returned would be satisfied knowing that she did her job well. I couldn’t stop her and gave my blessings instead.”

Mr Chandar said his daughter had always been in the care of family members, but now the tables had turned.

“She has spent most of the time at her grandfather’s house, Hari Chand,” he said.

“This is the first time she is away from family and on her own.”

The second batch of 20 medical professionals (nurses, doctors and midwives) from Labasa Hospital left this morning (Saturday) to support their colleagues in the containment area.

The first batch of 19 staff left last week Wednesday.

They were initially told to serve 21 days, but this is due to change depending upon the situation.

More batches are expected to join.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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