Covid survivors feature in ad campaign saluting healthcare workers

Mrs Yasmin Gaffoor, 58, was petrified when she and her husband, Anwar, 66, both came down with Covid-19 in March.

A healthcare assistant, Mrs Gaffoor was more worried for her husband than herself.

The mother of two said: "I had sleepless nights, terrified that he may die because of his age.

"I imagined the worst after reading news reports of old people dying from Covid-19."

The couple were admitted to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), but to different rooms at first. Mrs Gaffoor fretted as Covid-19 patients are not allowed to leave their rooms, she said.

However, she asked her doctor, Dr Sapna Sadarangani, a consultant at NCID, if she could be in the same room as her husband of 30 years, and her wish was granted.

She said: "I felt so much more secure being able to see him in the same room. Being together, our mental well-being improved, which helped our (physical) well-being."

Now, the Gaffoors are part of a group of Covid-19 patients featured in an advertisement campaign initiated by ad agency BBDO Singapore and media agency OMD Singapore to pay tribute to the healthcare personnel on the front lines of the coronavirus battle.

Their Beyond The Case campaign also aims to put a face and voice to those who fell ill.

BBDO Singapore's managing director Nick Morrell said: "We wished to give the survivors a voice and a platform to say a heartfelt thank you to the nurses who cared for them, and to send an honest and empowering message to all health workers and front-liners, stating their dedication and hard work are appreciated.

"And if it makes even just one of our wonderful nurses smile, it's done its job."

Other patients featured in the campaign include dating agency Lunch Actually's co-founder Violet Lim, 40, and bank IT manager Raymond Koh, 47.

Mr Gaffoor, who was case 384, tested positive for the coronavirus after he came down with a fever and a cough.

A few days later, Mrs Gaffoor also tested positive. She was case 553. She said: "It was more traumatic for our daughters as both of us caught it. Thank God, our kids didn't catch it."

Mr Gaffoor was hospitalised for 14 days at NCID, while his wife was there for nine days.

The Gaffoors were all praise for the NCID staff. Mrs Gaffoor said: "They were always smiling and assuring us we would recover soon. We really salute them."