On normal Saturdays, BBC’s ‘Breakfast’ programme is background noise as I recover from Friday evening’s excesses, think about the next 40 hours’ enjoyment and sort out personal admin. Last Saturday’s place in time meant it was far from normal and destined to be driven by the uncertainties and fears that come with an unknown and invisible enemy.

Well, as in the movies, some people will march towards the enemy as if inspired by the F. D. Roosevelt notion that “we have nothing to fear but fear itself”. It was while I took in the latest reports on the COVID-19 pandemic that an example of such heroism popped up on my television’s screen.

Dr Jessica Mok is a trainee member of the Royal College of Surgeons and, with the help of the rewind and pause buttons of my TV box, I captured her inspiring attitude.

“I volunteered to work for the Nightingale Hospital as one of the doctors on the ward.”

“I was so excited when I got the call that I said yes, I’ll come immediately.”

“My parents and my family and friends who live in Hong Kong and Macau are more worried about my safety than maybe I am.”

“There’s a lot of fear and uncertainty but I think I just have to go for it and do what I can. We have a moral obligation to do something. That’s what’s important.”

Dr Mok became even more inspiring when asked about apprehensions…

“I am scared that I’ll get sick so that I can’t work and that will leave my colleagues short. I am scared that I will come home to my partner and infect him.”

Yep! Even getting sick was seen in terms of its effect on her colleagues. It was all about doing the right thing by other people. It was totally inspiring.

© Othame Kabia