X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

'Virus! Virus!': Nurse Mocked, Shamed and Sprayed With Disinfectant by Neighbours Daily

3 min read

Despite the thunderous applause, choral homage and intricate light displays meant to pay tribute to our healthcare workers, it seems that not all are treated with such dignity.

A nurse who had previously endured stares and insults from his neighbours finally made a police report after they began spraying him with disinfectant last Wednesday (May 13) and chanting: “Virus! Virus!”, 8world reported.

Speaking with the Chinese news portal, the unidentified man revealed that he has been a nurse for 10 years and was previously based in Sengkang General Hospital (SKH) before he was transferred to a neighbourhood clinic recently. His neighbours, too, had always known of his occupation.

Both families had always been amicable with each other, according to Lianhe Zaobao. That changed after three of his wife’s colleagues moved in with them.

It was then that the stares and insults began.

“I am called c****, k*****, virus, dirty family and virus family,” he wrote in a post on Instagram.

Healthcare worker abused

Image: AsiaOne/Screengrab from Instagram

Like him, his family has not been spared from such treatment. His wife, who works in an essential service line, their five-year-old daughter and his wife’s colleagues face the same ordeal daily.

In a separate Instagram post, his wife added that their daughter was now afraid of going out or even playing along the corridor, in fear that their neighbours would spray disinfectant at her, or even spit at her.

She recounted her daughter saying: “Ibu (mother), how come aunty throw her saliva? Why she spray (Dettol) at us? I scared Ibu. Hold my hand Ibu.”

Healthcare worker abused

Image: AsiaOne/Screengrab from Instagram

One of the videos the couple posted showed their daughter holding her arms up in defence as she approached their own front door.

“A humble abode I once call home is no longer home to me,” she wrote. “I am scared to go home after work cause I know by the time I reached my corridor, bad words will just start coming out from our neighbour’s mouth [sic].”

Virus! Virus!: Nurse Mocked, Shamed and Sprayed With Disinfectant by Neighbours Daily

Image: AsiaOne/Screengrab from Instagram

The couple lodged a police report for harassment after their daughter was sprayed in the face. However, they were told to lodge a magistrate report instead as the police were unable to assist without a court order, the nurse said.

He separately told 8world that he has reached out to Janil Puthucheary, Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol group representation constituency, as well as the head nurse and an administrator from the hospital for assistance.

Police told AsiaOne that investigations are currently ongoing.

SKH released a statement on Facebook saying they were aware of the incident. They stressed that their staff deserve consideration, respect and a safe environment both at work and at home so that they can continue giving their best and thus asked the public to respect their personnel.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to remind members of the public that cases of physical or verbal abuse of our healthcare staff will be reported to the police for follow up,” SKH added.

This isn’t the first case of discrimination faced by healthcare workers. Earlier in February, several professionals had shared their own accounts of harassment and discrimination, from having a private-hire car cancel on them simply for heading to the hospital, to being told, “You nurses always walk around with virus on you and always spread to people.“

This post was first published on AsiaOne and was republished on theAsianparent with permission.

ALSO READ:

Rise In Number Of Family Violence-related Reports Since Circuit Breaker: SPF

Hospital Warns Against Wearing Masks While Exercising After Jogger Suffers Collapsed Lung

Virus! Virus!: Nurse Mocked, Shamed and Sprayed With Disinfectant by Neighbours Daily

Partner Stories
Try This Proven Method to Raise a Smart and Happy Child
Try This Proven Method to Raise a Smart and Happy Child
Facing Parenting Challenges? Help is at Hand. Just Reach Out.
Facing Parenting Challenges? Help is at Hand. Just Reach Out.
Parenting Lesson from a New Mum - Don’t Try to Do it All on Your Own!
Parenting Lesson from a New Mum - Don’t Try to Do it All on Your Own!
Celebrity Dad Mark Lee Shares the 3 P's of Raising School Going Children - Parenting Tips, PSLE Preparation & Protecting Your Child’s Eyesight!
Celebrity Dad Mark Lee Shares the 3 P's of Raising School Going Children - Parenting Tips, PSLE Preparation & Protecting Your Child’s Eyesight!

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

asiaone

  • Home
  • /
  • Real Stories
  • /
  • 'Virus! Virus!': Nurse Mocked, Shamed and Sprayed With Disinfectant by Neighbours Daily
Share:
  • Naval Corpsmen make obscene gestures at newborns, calling them 'Mini satans'

    Naval Corpsmen make obscene gestures at newborns, calling them 'Mini satans'

  • "I Was Pregnant When He Hit Me and Here's Why I Stayed": A Singapore Mum's Story

    "I Was Pregnant When He Hit Me and Here's Why I Stayed": A Singapore Mum's Story

  • Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

    Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

  • Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

    Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

  • Naval Corpsmen make obscene gestures at newborns, calling them 'Mini satans'

    Naval Corpsmen make obscene gestures at newborns, calling them 'Mini satans'

  • "I Was Pregnant When He Hit Me and Here's Why I Stayed": A Singapore Mum's Story

    "I Was Pregnant When He Hit Me and Here's Why I Stayed": A Singapore Mum's Story

  • Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

    Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

  • Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

    Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.