Originally from the Gulshan-e-Noor neighbourhood in Karachi, Pakistan. Shazia is a proud Aga Khan University graduate, who worked for nine years at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan before switching to her current role in Al-Ain.
As a frontline practitioner, Shazia works with management and is engaged in direct care of patients during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Having dealt with patients in the urgent care unit, the day came when she had to quarantine herself as a result of exposure to her department’s first Covid-19-positive patient.
It was extremely difficult to leave her department behind for two weeks. “It was not a good feeling at all,” Shazia recalls. Those 14 days of waiting — confined to her home in anticipation of her Covid-19 test results while her team continued on — were truly difficult. She encountered mental anxiety and stress during that time.
What helped her the most with the anxiety and fear was support from her team and hospital staff as well as her loving family and a strong sense of faith. Looking back, Shazia gives thanks to her entire team and hospital management for their love.
Shazia’s Covid-19 test was negative, so she was able to continue the battle against the virus by rejoining her team at Kanad Hospital and resuming her full duties. However, it is still difficult to see fear in the eyes of each patient and colleague in her daily working life. She encourages her patients and colleagues to share their feelings of stress and mental anxiety as the pandemic continues to be a difficult time.
Her advice to all people is to be strong in faith during this crisis.
Additionally, she sends the message to not be scared. Shazia adds, “make sure that you get facts about what is happening, protect each other, have strong faith, and always be kind.”
