Muslim nurses 'relieved' to get to wear tudung with uniform, private hospitals to follow suit

SINGAPORE: Muslim nurses have welcomed the information that nurses within the public healthcare sector will likely be allowed to wear a tudung with their uniforms if they need to from November. 

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong throughout his National Day Rally speech on Sunday (Aug 29). 

"I am very relieved, very happy when I heard the news. It's been very long since we've asked for this. There was a sense of relief. I was even tearing up, got a bit emotional," shared a nurse who solely needed to be referred to as Wati.

The 36-year-old Malay-Muslim has been a nurse at Singapore General Hospital for 16 years. She mentioned she wasn't anticipating the information, as she had "kind of lost hope" that she could be allowed to wear a tudung at work. 

Wati at present dons the tudung on her manner to work, removes it on the job, then places it on once more for the journey house. 

"There's a reason why the tudung is so important to the Muslim community. Wearing the tudung is part of a spiritual journey to God. When we work as a nurse, it's our job to heal others. (Being able to wear the tudung) aligns what we believe in with (our job of) helping people," she advised CNA. 

"It's something in our hearts, and finally we're able to practise it, to be part of the community." 

Similarly, 33-year-old nurse Aishah Sulaiman was "very happy to hear" the information.

"It's not a hinder for me to carry out my duties now, but (being able to wear a tudung) would make the to-and-fro journey more convenient," mentioned Ms Aishah, who works at a public hospital. 

Ms Aishah mentioned she believes most Muslim nurses in Singapore have been ready to hear the information, particularly "when we can see that healthcare workers in other countries have been able to wear the tudung". 

"This news is significant to me because I'm a practising Muslim. I wish I can wear my tudung (on the job) since it's compulsory to me as a Muslim woman."