Abu Dhabi gives free flights home to Covid-19 frontline workers

Seha is rewarding staff who fought first-hand against the pandemic with round-trip tickets to see loved ones

Healthcare workers at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi. In May of 2021, the emergency ward was dedicated to treating Covid-19 patients. Reem Mohammed / The National

Nurse Seema Mary Rajan had Covid-19 and now suffers ongoing breathing problems and joint pain. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A nurse in a general ward of a field hospital in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi on May 13, 2021. Antonie Robertson / The National

Helena Stevens, senior director of nursing at Zulekha Hospital. Antonie Robertson / The National

Nurse Jewel Tangullig checks documentation prior to a patient assessment. Antonie Robertson / The National

A nurse conducts a nasal swab test on a UAE government employee. Victor Besa / The National.

Nurse Jessica Bonacua is one of 80,000 frontline workers included in Frontline Hero Worker's registry by UAE government. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Doctors and UAE residents get the Covid-19 vaccine at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi. Nurse JM Castro co-ordinates with the 6th floor to replenish the vaccines at the clinic, which are temperature sensitive.Victor Besa / The National

Nurses smile for the camera while practicing physical distancing at a Covid-19 testing centre. Victor Besa / The National

Healthcare workers in Abu Dhabi who have served on the front line throughout the pandemic are to receive return flights home to see their loved ones.

The gesture, by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha), is a thank you to all those who spent almost two years away from family and loved ones to help treat Covid-19 patients since the first cases were recorded in January 2020.

Posting online, Seha thanked its frontline workers for their efforts.

“Because they truly deserve to be recognised for their selfless efforts and sacrifices, Seha wanted to show our frontline heroes appreciation by reuniting them with their families.”

Frontline workers have been pushed to extremes over the last 22 months, with some reporting exhaustion and depression.

A number of healthcare workers contracted the virus during their duties and died.

The UAE in April pledged to support the families of 14 frontline workers who died during the nation's fight against Covid-19.

The Frontline Heroes office, established last July, is ensuring their “ultimate sacrifice” is not forgotten, by caring for the loved ones they left behind.

It was also announced earlier this year that frontline workers in the UAE and their children will receive scholarships for higher studies under a government initiative.

The Frontline Heroes Office said that a Higher Education Scholarship Programme will be offered to select frontline workers in the UAE to reduce their education costs.

The programme will be supported by Sandooq Al Watan, a social initiative launched by a group of Emirati businessmen, the private sector and the Ministry of Education.

The scholarship will help eligible frontline heroes and their children to study at government and private universities and colleges across the UAE.

Frontline heroes who gave their lives fighting Covid-19: in pictures

Dr Varsha with her husband Dr Sudhir Rambhau Washimkar, who worked in Burjeel Royal Hospital Al Ain, contracted the virus on May 9 and died a month later. Courtesy: Washimkar family

Dr Bassam Bernieh, chief medical officer of the Home Hemodialysis unit at the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi, speaks to a woman who needed donations to pay for her dialysis at her home in Dubai. Satish Kumar for The National

Dr Muhammad Usman Khan died of Covid-19 in Abu Dhabi at the age of 56. Courtesy: Alia Usman

Marlon Jimenea worked in the ICY at the University Hospital of Sharjah and died three weeks after contracting Covid-19. Courtesy: The Filipino Times

Lezly is survived by her husband and young child, who are in the Philippines. Courtesy: Burjeel