NEWCASTLE KZN: Local nurse turns to prayer in tough Covid-19 times

Zama Singh (34) has been working as an enrolled nurse at Mediclinic Newcastle for the past six years and says she turns to prayer and meditation on a daily basis, to help her cope with the stress and heartache of being on the frontline.

The biggest challenge for Zama, both personally and professionally, is having to watch a patient pass away alone – due to Covid-19 restrictions and the associated risks, families are often not allowed to see their loved ones in hospital.

“Seeing them go, often with no support from their family due to visitor restrictions, is heartbreaking. Here at Mediclinic, things are a little more flexible at this time but often, all a patient needs is to be able to hold the hand of those they love and it’s challenging knowing they cannot have this comfort at a time when they need it most,” said an emotional Zama.

As a wife to medical worker, Rishal Singh and mom of one beautiful daughter, Makayla (9), this is especially hard for her to bear.

“We are able to go home and while prayer and meditation helps, that sadness never really leaves you. God will help you deal with it but it lingers…”

Zama herself contracted Covid during the first surge last year.

She credited her family for helping her through her darkest days and recounted her traumatic experience:

“I noticed at first that I had a bit of a cough. It was mildly irritating and went away, but then came back worse the next day. I went for a test and it came back positive so I immediately went into quarantine at home. At first I had no other symptoms but then I started getting very dizzy and had headaches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. I was just extremely weak and sick.”

Zama spent three weeks fighting the virus and said this scary experience made her infinitely more compassionate towards Covid patients, as she understands first-hand what they are going through. She said she was lucky enough not to have respiratory complications during her illness.

“Right now, one of the greatest challenges we are facing is just the amount of death. In one day, we had five deaths… at one time it was a husband and wife who passed on, leaving behind their young children…” Zama paused, unable to continue.

“It’s just really hard seeing this, especially as a mother,” she whispered through her tears.

“As nurses, you form a bond with patients, especially those who have had to stay for a long time. One day they will seem fine and 10 days later, they are gone… it’s not something you can ever get over.”

The most rewarding part of being on the frontline

For Zama, when a really sick Covid patient leaves ICU and is taken off a ventilator to go into the Ward, it is an immensely rewarding feeling knowing their life has been saved.

“Prayer gives me strength because God said He will never forsake us, so even if we feel hopeless, we never give up. We know we cannot control it, but my faith gives me the strength to wake up each day and do my best for my patients. Seeing them recover is all the thanks I need.”

A special message from the frontline to the community

“Please try and stay home where possible. Remember, if you move, the virus moves so we need to try and prevent the spread. Try and only shop if it is essential. I know it’s hard but if you could see what we see on a daily basis, you would realise this is such a small sacrifice to make to protect each other. Covid-19 will end one day. To the community, I want to say thank you for your unwavering support. We get so much motivation from your prayers and words of encouragement. I want to urge all of you to keep praying for us to have the strength to keep going.”

Read this week’s edition of the Newcastle Advertiser for our tribute to medical workers, exclusive interviews with Covid-19 survivors, and learn more about the heroes battling the pandemic on the frontlines.

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Email: Reveshni Douglas (Editor) at reveshni@caxton.co.za

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