PUTRAJAYA: Rohzanizah Samli could have been at home in Sabah celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri with her family but she willingly chose to be at the Putrajaya Hospital's emergency and trauma department.
The 34-year-old nurse, who has been attached to the hospital in the administrative capital for the past eight years, said she was ready to serve the nation with all her heart amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Sabahan, from Kuala Penyu, said she had the opportunity to be off-duty this Hari Raya as she had worked during the festival for the past two years.
"But it is hard for me to put aside my responsibilities as a nurse during this time of crisis. My sacrifice to be at the hospital now is to help the country's healthcare system face the pandemic, and hopefully break the Covid-19 transmission chain.
"Being at work this time around is more meaningful as we fight Covid-19 and I feel my presence is more appreciated. The Hari Raya celebration with my family can wait," she told the New Straits Times today.
Rohzanizah, who was scheduled to be on the 7am to 9pm shift today, said she and her colleagues had organised a pot luck at the department's pantry to spread Hari Raya cheer.
Last night she cooked her Aidilfitri specialities such as rendang with peanut gravy to be brought to work today.
"The celebration at my workplace is very different this year. We cannot crowd the pantry while we savour the Hari Raya dishes as only four persons are allowed to be in there at any one time.
"We cannot hug or salam each other and have to practice social distancing. The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has become our Hari Raya outfit, complete with face shield, face mask, gloves and apron.
"The mood is different. Even the department is more quiet than usual as there are lesser patients. Normally there will be many who come in to seek treatment for stomach ache or diarrhoea," she added.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had this morning paid a visit to the hospital's frontliners accompanied by his deputy director-general (medical) Datuk Dr Rohaizat Yon and Putrajaya Hospital director Datuk Dr Nora'i Mohd Said.
Rohzanizah said she was happy to be able to meet Dr Noor Hisham, who she described as her big boss, and someone she looked up to.
"Dr Noor Hisham used to work here (Putrajaya Hospital) but I only saw him from afar. But this time I got to meet him face to face and even had the chance to take a picture with him."
The hospital's assistant medical officer Efi Cassey Kristus,27, will also not be able to return to Sabah for Pesta Kaamatan which falls on May 30.
"I usually fill in for my Muslim colleagues during Hari Raya. But this year, I cannot go back to Telipok for the celebrations, too, as duty calls. Work has never been the same since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country.
"The PPE is now a must and we stopped wearing our uniforms for the time being," said Efi, who has been working at the hospital for close to three years.
Meanwhile, firemen Muhamad Razif Ismail from Selangor Fire and Rescue Department's Rawang zone, said both he and his wife, a nurse at the Selayang Hospital, were on duty this Hari Raya.
The 34-year-old, who has been in the service for a decade, said he was on double duty as he was on standby to conduct Covid-19 sanitisation and disinfection operations when required by the Health Ministry and the local authorities, as well as responding to emergency calls to the department.
"We are not only focused on the Covid-19 pandemic at the moment. Work is as usual for us where we also attend to emergency calls and I have my full gear with me, complete with boots and helmet at all times.
"I do not mind working during this time as it will be in invaluable experience. The tiredness I feel from work goes away when I see the Covid-19 statistics go down and red zones turn into green. That is the satisfaction I get from serving the people," said Razif.