Abir and a More Long-Term Form of Therapy.

March 19, 2021

“Nursing isn’t easy. But I love it”. 
This is Abir – a nurse and ward team leader at the Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery.

Through her words and facial expressions, Abir communicates the complete dedication she has to her job and a passion for the people she works with. A dedication that has supported our work in Sudan for almost 9 years now.

Abir first heard about EMERGENCY during her time as a student at university, coincidentally just in time to join the opening of the Paediatric Centre in Port Sudan. She started working there, devoting her time to assisting malnourished children and their mothers. However, only a year into her time with EMERGENCY, she decided to specialise further and embark on the 850km journey inland to the Salam Centre in Khartoum.

Now we see her, smiling under a mask that has become familiar to all of us – a smile that demonstrates the pride she has in the work she does. “EMERGENCY teaches you how to manage time”, she says, “To be systematic in providing a high standard of treatment as well as counselling sessions to introduce patients to the life-long therapy.”

The activities inside a hospital ward are many and wide-ranging, from feeding, showering, changing beds and clothes, to giving medicines in the right doses. Despite this,  Abir points out that what is most central, most fundamental, is simply being there and “supporting patients through their suffering. Many patients are in my heart. I share everything with them”. That’s exactly why a high-quality, comprehensive approach to healthcare is so important. Because during the treatment and recovery process, not only are physical wounds healed, but the empathy and support shown by nurses like Abir are also effective as a more long-term form of therapy.