Medical staff who have been serving in the Central Division during the current COVID-19 outbreak will be returning home today.

The team from the Northern Division will undergo 14 days quarantine in Nadi before returning home.

They were farewelled at the Vodafone Arena on Sunday.

Head of Fiji Emergency Medical Assistance Team (FEMAT) and acting superintendent of Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital, Dr Luke Nasedra said today would be their last day per contractual engagement.

He acknowledged them for all their sacrifices leaving their families behind and responding to the call of duty.

Sister Selaima Tuisavuna, from Labasa Hospital says it had been a privilege to be part of the FEMAT Team.

“Starting this journey from Lautoka to Suva fighting this pandemic, we toiled through the night and day, we persevered together as a team,” Ms Tuisavuna said.

She said some had desperately wanted to return home, but they could not due to unforeseen circumstances.

“I’m so proud of my team for whatever we’ve been through. We ended it together.

“Some got COVID-19 positive, but came back stronger to continue the work we were called to do,” she said.

Surgical Nurse Visha Gounder, 25, of Wailevu, Labasa is excited to reunite with her parents and siblings after a stint at FEMAT hospital in Lautoka and Suva.

She was one of the first group of nurses that came to Lautoka to help with the COVID-19 outbreak.

She and her colleagues later departed for Suva when there was an outbreak at the CWM Hospital.

Yesterday, Ms Gounder left Suva for Nadi to be quarantined for 14 days before she could travel to the Northern Division.

“The last few months had been tough but with the encouragement from my family, friends and colleagues I was able to go through all the stressful days,” Ms Gounder said.

“I am excited to be going back to the North especially after not seeing my family for a few months now.”

She said working at the FEMAT hospital was very challenging, but she would return if the situation demands it.

Edited by Losirene Lacanivalu 

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