UAE confers 'martyrdom' on frontline Pakistani doctor who died of COVID-19

DUBAI: A United Arab Emirates-based Pakistani doctor, who contracted the coronavirus while treating blue collar workers at a small clinic in Abu Dhabi and died of COVID-19 on May 15, was recognized as a martyr and national hero by the Gulf state, his widow confirmed while talking to Arab News on Wednesday.
Dr. Mohammed Usman was also awarded the Fallen Frontline Heroes Order by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the Commemoration Day that is observed on November 30 to honor the sacrifice of all those who laid down their lives for the Gulf country.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, called the families of the seven heroes who were recognized by the UAE government and personally thanked them for their services.
“I got a call from the office of the crown prince that he would speak to me later on Monday,” Alia Usman, widow of the 56-year-old general practitioner, said. “However, I was told later that he was busy and would call me in a few days.”
“At first, I did not believe that Sheikh Mohamed would call me, but then I was told that my late husband had been recognized as a martyr by the UAE government and that everything related to me and my children, including visas, their education, my daily expenses and house rents, would be taken care of by him. I was very happy,” she continued.
Dr. Usman contracted the virus while working at his clinic weeks before he passed away in Abu Dhabi on May 15. His two sons are four and six years old.
“It has been over six months since my husband passed away. While life has been a struggle without him, people have been very kind and helpful,” she said.
Alia informed that neighbors, friends, the medical community, and her children’s school had stepped forward to support her.
“Despite all the help that I got, I was planning to move back to Pakistan, but this call changed everything,” she said. “If all goes as the government has promised, I will continue to live here and my children will get the best education that my husband desired for them.”
She also maintained she was very happy that the dedication and selflessness of her husband was recognized by the UAE.
“It makes me very happy that my husband has got the recognition he deserved,” she said.
Dr. Usman, who belonged to Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir, worked for a private health care group for 11 years but lost his job in 2019. However, he joined a small clinic in Abu Dhabi where he mostly treated blue collar workers.