Pakistani expat bedridden in UAE hospital for over 3 years repatriated

Umm Al Quwain: A Pakistani expatriate, who had been bedridden in a UAE hospital for three-and-a-half years, has been repatriated, thanks to the efforts of a Good Samaritan Indian expat social worker in collaboration with the hospital and local authorities concerned.

Saqib Javed, 45, was airlifted last week following the relentless efforts of Sajad Sahir Nattika to make arrangements for his repatriation.

A native of Sargodha in Pakistan, Saqib was admitted to the Umm Al Quwain Hospital on April 9, 2020, due to a severe brain-related illness that left him paralysed and bedridden.

The patient experienced sporadic episodes of epilepsy, adding to the complexity of his case that was reported during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With no valid visa, passport, or other legal documents, making his repatriation was a huge challenge while the hospital continued to provide treatment and care to the patient in a chronic vegetative state,” Sajad told Gulf News.

He said the expired documents showed Saqib had an investor’s visa.

“I think he had a small business which went bust later. Since he had an investor’s status in the visa, it was probably difficult to get funds for him,” said Sajad, who works with the pharmacy in the hospital.

Volunteering for humanity

As a community volunteer associated with the Indian Association in Umm Al Quwain, Sajad has been involved in repatriating bedridden and deceased patients.

“I have been in the UAE for 28 years," said Sajad. He hasn’t kept a count of the people he has helped repatriate. “It should be at least 20 cases a year,” said Sajad, a former president and the current vice president of the Indian Association, Umm Al Quwain.

Volunteers involved in such repatriation services need to coordinate with various entities including consulates, courts, immigration and labour departments, he explained.

The majority of the beneficiaries of his service have been Indians. “Because I know all the procedures involved, sometimes the hospital authorities seek my help in repatriating people from other countries as well.”

Collaborative efforts

“In Saqib’s case, I worked with the hospital and charity organisations to get things done,” he added.

He said the documents were arranged in collaboration with PRO Fayaz Ahmed.

Saqib is a bachelor and his siblings back home agreed to arrange his future care.

He was finally flown home after the Pakistani Consulate issued a travel document and the Pakistan International Airlines provided facilities to fly the stretcher-bound patient. A male nurse escorted him.

Sajad expressed his deep gratitude towards the dedicated healthcare professionals and hospital authorities who collaborated tirelessly to make this humanitarian mission possible.

“They deserve special thanks and appreciation for providing excellent care and treatment to him for such a long period. With the long-term rehabilitation including physiotherapy, he had started moving his left limbs. I also thank all the entities who supported in sending him back home. I am glad he can at least be near his family members now,” said Sajad who moved on to his next mission to repatriate a Sri Lankan patient next.