Paralysed maid returns home after two years in Sharjah hospital

DUBAI: A paralysed domestic worker from Sri Lanka finally boarded a flight home on Saturday after being stranded in a UAE hospital for over two years.

Rejina John’s departure has evoked a mixed reaction from all those associated with her stay in the country. Their happiness at seeing Rejina return home was tinged with sadness as they will all miss the feisty young woman.

Despite losing her ability to speak, Rejina managed to connect with staff at the Kuwaiti Hospital in Sharjah with enthusiastic responses and an endearing smile.

For them she was their ‘darling Rejina’ who loves to wear colourful glass bangles, earrings and enjoys listening to music on the small tape recorder kept beside her bed.

Hospital staff did all they could to make sure Rejina did not miss home while she was with them.

Wasantha Senanayake, the Sri Lankan Consul General, told Gulf News that the hospital had waived all her medical expenses and had provided her with an air ticket on humanitarian grounds.

He said: “She was well taken care of. They all loved her so much. She was served every meal on time and the staff made sure of her well-being.”

Rejina was admitted to hospital on July 14, 2005, after being involved in a road accident.

At the time her legal status was that of an absconder who had come to the UAE seven years back on a valid maid’s visa to work for a family in Al Ain. She absconded to work as a part-time housemaid in various homes.

Hospital records showed Rejina was 90 per cent paralysed. She underwent a skull operation and a tracheotomy in September 2005.

“The reason for her delayed repatriation is because we did not get the power of attorney from her family to take a legal battle for compensation. It also took us a while to track down her family,” Senanayake said.

“She comes from Digana, officials from the Sri Lankan Bureau of Foreign Employment (SBFE) finally succeeded in getting her father provide us with the power of attorney. Our labour welfare Consul is accompanied her until Colombo,” added Senanayake.

Rejina, who requires nursing care and physiotherapy, will be given help from the SBFE until the compensation comes through.

“A lawyer has been appointed and we hope to get her financial help as soon as possible. Her family is very poor and survives hand to mouth,” said Senanayake.

Volunteers of Valley of Love (VoL), a Dubai-based Indian organisation, who were involved in rendering assistance to her, were full of praise for the hospital.

“We are glad that Rejina has finally gone home. All marks to the hospital and the staff who put the smile back on Rejina’s face,” said C.P Mathew.

Gulf News