"I know what they're going through": Recovered Iraqi medic sings to COVID-19 patients

Record ID: 1561667

  • Title: "I know what they're going through": Recovered Iraqi medic sings to COVID-19 patients
  • Date: 9th July 2020
  • Summary: BASRA, IRAQ (JULY 9, 2020) (REUTERS VIA ZOOM) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RECOVERED CORONAVIRUS PATIENT AND LABORATORY ASSISTANT, MOHAMMED KARIM, SAYING: "I belong to a very vulnerable group because I have lung problems. I once was ill with tuberculosis and recovered. So medical reports say I should not go in (to the isolation ward) because of my lungs. But God gives me strength."
  • Embargoed: 23rd July 2020 16:36
  • Keywords: Basra Coronavirus Hospital Iraq Isolation ward Medical worker Recovered patient Singing Support
  • Location: BASRA, IRAQ
  • City: BASRA, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA008CM38GGL
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Standing by the bed of a coronavirus patient in Basra's al-Mawana hospital, Mohammed Karim fills the room with songs he hopes will cheer up COVID-19 patients spending long days in the isolation ward.
    Karim, a laboratory assistant at the hospital, said that he understands what patients are going through, having fallen ill with the coronavirus himself two months ago.
    While in quarantine, he felt lonely and frustrated. The presence of his family by his side helped him on the difficult journey towards recovery.
    A father-of-two, Karim had been ill with tuberculosis in the past. Although doctors had advised him to stay clear of the coronavirus ward, he had volunteered to conduct tests with coronavirus patients before catching the disease.
    He did not stop visiting patients after his recovery, but felt that he should use his experience to find ways to comfort them instead, going to the ward on a daily basis.
    Hearing patients telling him that they feel better after hearing his songs warms his heart, Karim says, both surprised and happy at the positive impact he has had.
    Iraq has so far registered 67,442 coronavirus cases, including 2,779 deaths.
    (Production: Charlotte Bruneau, Mohammed Aty)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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