When he found out he had tested positive for Covid-19, JM Jasim, a Bangladeshi migrant worker, felt sad but did not panic.
"I knew Singapore has good medical facilities and will take care of us," Jasim said, reports The Straits Times.
He was so moved by the care he received that he penned a note in Bengali with a translation in English on Facebook earlier this week, thanking "each and everyone in Singapore who has loved us as their own from the bottom of my heart.”
"During this pandemic, Singapore hasn't pushed us far away," wrote the 28-year-old, who is working in Singapore for about seven years, adding that the Singaporean government had spent money to battle the coronavirus outbreak among workers in dormitories.
"They appreciate our hard work in building their country and now, they take care of us when we are sick," he told the Straits Times.
The construction safety supervisor was diagnosed on May 5, and is recovering.
He said he might have contracted the virus at his Cochrane Lodge II dormitory, an infection cluster where more than 400 were infected with Covid-19.
Migrant workers were looked after in the same way as if they were Singaporean, Jasim said.
Bangladeshi construction safety supervisor JM Jasim with his son Tahamidul Hasan, who turned one on May 13, in a photo taken five months ago | Collected
"We have left our families and our own dreams to work in this foreign land, but we are not alone in this country," he said.
On May 1, Jasim started feeling ill and developed a fever, followed by chest pains, dizziness, and headaches on the next day.
As symptoms persisted, he went to a doctor on May 5, and was referred to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH), where an X-ray and swab tests were done. On the same night, a nurse told him he had tested positive for Covid-19.
Jasim, the father of a one-year-old boy, broke the news to his parents and 22-year-old wife, who then broke into tears.
"But I told them they did not have to worry because I would be getting better treatment here, and they calmed down." He added.
During his stay in the hospital, where he was in a ward with seven others, Jasim felt well. His symptoms went away after a few days, the reports added.
Tough to stay away from family in such difficult times
Jasim hails from Jessore. He stayed in touch with his family through video calls, the whole time.
The chats mostly revolved around his child. "I miss my son a lot. My son is still to speak, but he would call me 'papa, papa' when he sees me on the screen," he said.
"I would be so happy that I would forget I was sick," he added.
However, it was difficult to be so far from home when his son, Tahamidul Hasan, turned one on May 13, his ninth day at KTPH.
"I felt sad that I could not celebrate it with him," he said.
"I shared with the nurses that it was my son's birthday, and when they came in, they would ask me to share their wishes with him. I cried because I was so touched."
On May 19, after feeling well enough Jasim was transferred to the Singapore Sports Hub, a temporary accommodation.
Throughout the past few weeks, Singaporeans have stepped up to spur him on, said Jasim who is also a contributor for local Bengali newspaper Banglar Kantha.
"Some would message me to ask how I am, others tell me they are here for us," he said.
When asked about the Facebook note, he said he wanted to convey his appreciation to the healthcare workers, the report further mentioned.
"They did not avoid us and took care of us like family," he said.
Some of the support workers here have received continued salary payments, free quarantine accommodation, and "top-class" medical treatment, Jasim also said.
He also thanked the non-governmental organizations who came forward to help.
"I am proud of being a migrant worker here. When I recover, I want to work hard and contribute back to Singapore,” Jasim concluded.