Colonel / Clinical Scientist Thuraya Ali Al Hashemi, and Director of the Medical Services Department at Abu Dhabi Police clearly remembers the moment COVID-19 took its toll on her. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the day she became ill and tested positive for the virus which she contracted in the line of duty. Nor was it during the two-month period at the start of the outbreak when she worked tirelessly without a single day off.
“My management urged me to take a few days, but I couldn’t – this was my duty,” said Colonel Thuraya. “But one day, a couple of weeks after I returned from quarantine, I collapsed on the office stairs.”
Colonel Thuraya was still not deterred. She got up and went back to work, leading the fight against COVID-19 across all Abu Dhabi Police’s facilities. But during her fall, Colonel Thuraya had injured her hand.
“The pain was getting worse by the day,” she said. “So, after three weeks I went to a doctor who sent me for an X-ray and confirmed it was a bone fissure. She said I had to wear a splint, so I did, and I went back to work straight away.”
Colonel Thuraya humbly added: “I was proud carrying out my responsibilities like everyone else in my team and I wanted to stay on the front line. Everybody was doing their part, day, and night, and I was proud to work with the medical staff I met during this challenge. They demonstrated extraordinary efforts.”
Colonel Thuraya’s COVID-19 journey began in February 2020. After an initial heads-up from her top management, senior staff were called to a meeting in the operations center in DOH where Dr Mattar Al Nouaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Public Health Center and Director of the Emergency and Disaster Management Division, explained that the novel coronavirus outbreak in China meant the world would soon be facing an unprecedented challenge.
Colonel Thuraya said: “That meeting was on a Thursday at noon and we had to devise a plan that would start on the Sunday. We had two days to manage that. When I drove back home that night I felt stressed and had to develop a comprehensive plan and strategy that covered team members’ training, resources and equipment that would help us lead the fight against COVID-19 in all our departments and facilities, including Punitive and Correctional Establishment.
“My team showed real dedication by working immediately on this issue and starting to implement the strategy in all sectors to protect every employee under GHQ facilities and the community at large.”
The operation included opening 3 clinics in 3 geographical areas (Al Ain, Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi), and forming seven teams in Punitive and Correctional Establishment, sourcing testing equipment, and equipping staff with PPE gear and much more.
But it was the staff themselves who deserve credit for all the hard work, Colonel Thuraya said. “I am honoured today to be able to speak on behalf of all my colleagues and friends who have held hands with me for the past 8 months to create a shield that has helped others.”
Praised the formation of the Frontline Heroes Office, Colonel Thuraya added: “There is no doubt that the Frontline Heroes Office will be of great benefit to many people who deserve the recognition and support it will offer.”
