One of the challenges frontliners face daily is changing the mentality of the COVID-19 patients they look after.

Loreen Kumar, is among the 50 frontliners from Northern Division on deployment to the Central Division.

The 28-year-old bachelorette, based at the Nas­inu Emergency Operation Centre, is looking af­ter home isolation cases.

“The work of the frontliners is much more than just nursing COVID-19 patients,” Ms Ku­mar said.

“Some act in ignorance thinking coronavirus is just a normal sickness, but it’s not.”

The youngest of three siblings, originally from Labasa has been on deployment since May 26.

“This is my seventh year of practice and I vol­unteered to go on deployment as I have great passion for the work I do,” she said.

“Of course it was challenging to leave my fam­ily behind during this pandemic but they have always been my pillar of strength encouraging me to be the best I can.”

She recalls some situations where some pa­tients are rude in their approach towards healthcare workers attending to them and they cast their frustration.

“For me, I deal with it by simply understand­ing them from their perspective and knowing that they are indeed frustrated from what is happening around them and it might be their way of dealing with the disease,” she said.

“As a nurse, my advice to the public is to not take this virus lightly.

“Please adhere to the simple procedures.”

She said things such as handwashing, so­cial distancing, wearing masks and going to a healthcare facility if you have any symptoms were necessary.

“I want to see my family soon and only you can help us the frontliners by doing the right thing,” she pleaded.

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