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4500-mile trip to battle Coronavirus

Cleaner flies 4500 miles home to join Coronavirus battle

A cleaner has made a 4500-mile journey in order to return home and join in the fight against Coronavirus for London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWUH).

Cleaner Purna Ghale was one of thousands of UK citizens caught abroad when travel restrictions were brought in to slow the global spread of coronavirus.

The 43-year-old, who works for Medirest at Northwick Park Hospital, was visiting family in Nepal when he heard his return flight had been cancelled. He spent another three weeks in Kathmandu before the Government arranged for a flight to repatriate nearly 300 British citizens.

Purna, who has worked at the hospital for 16 years, said special transport was laid on to collect people from their homes as the Nepalese capital went into total lockdown. He came straight back to work and is one of hundreds of non-clinical staff who keep the hospital running behind the scenes.

Purna added: “There were only a handful of reported cases in Kathmandu, but the lockdown is very strict in Nepal. The police and army patrol the streets and very few people are allowed outside. It was a relief to get back to my family in the UK.

“I’m just doing my bit like everyone else.”

www.lnwh.nhs.uk

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