Four UAE hero medics who caught coronavirus and returned to front lines share their stories

From doctors to ward attendants, workers recount early days when virus gripped the nation

Dr Mohamad Karima, who works at Al Zahra Hospital, Sharjah. All those pictured have recovered and all photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dr Ashar Jamal, from Al Zahra Hospital, was in hospital for a week after his health deteriorated because of Covid-19.

Renu Venugopal, who is a nurse at Al Zahra Hospital. The frontline staff at hospitals bore the brunt of the pandemic.

Seema Mary, a nurse at Medcare hospital, Sharjah. Her Covid-19 ordeal helped patients believe they too could recover, she said.

Dr Davinder Singh a cardiologist at the NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai. The first few days after being diagnosed were scary, he said.

Joslin Coelho, who is a nurse at the NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai Investments Park.

Silpa Suresh also a nurse at the NMC Royal Hospital. She has returned to work.

Keshar Bahadur a laboratory ward assistant at the NMC Royal Hospital, DIP. Hospitals filled with patients during the peak of the pandemic.

Dr Iffat Sultana, an internal medicine specialist at the NMC Royal Hospital, Dubai Investments Park. There was a lot of anxiety among hospital staff, she said.

Aldrian Tomas, a customer care representative at the NMC Royal Hospital, Dubai Investments Park.

Jephy Antony, who also works as a nurse at the NMC Royal Hospital. Like his colleagues, Mr Antony has also gone back to work.

Jomon Joy, a ward attendant at the NMC Royal Hospital. Hospitals have since seen a reduction in the number of patients.

Biji Mathew, nursing supervisor at the NMC Royal Hospital. Staff knew early in the year the virus had a good chance of reaching the UAE.

Ruth Kiruba, a nurse at the NMC Royal Hospital. She is back to work treating patients and expecting a child.

Medical staff have spoken of overcoming their fear and anxiety after contracting Covid-19 from packed hospital wards at the peak of the pandemic in the UAE.

Their stories are typical of the dedication of frontline workers who are back at their jobs, even as cases start to rise again promoting new warnings from health officials.

The National recounts some of their stories:

The cardiologist separated from his family

The dry cough and fever now familiar as coronavirus were becoming common in patients arriving at NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai Investments Park, one of many hospitals beginning to fill up. That is when cardiologist Dr Davinder Singh was told to take a nasal swab, as one of his colleagues had caught the virus.

“Every day my work put me in direct contact with Covid patients, so I knew there was a good chance I would get it,” said Dr Singh, who has fully recovered and is back at work.

“I wore all the protective equipment and was very careful. I don’t know how I got it,” he said.

A surge in cases in early April caused concern among the medical community about how damaging the virus could be.

On March 30 there were only 41 daily cases, but by April 15 that daily figure had soared to 432.

Authorities moved swiftly and established drive-in testing centres, stepped up tracing, imposed night stay-home restrictions and launched public awareness campaigns about wearing masks.

As a healthy 40-year-old, Dr Singh was not in the high-risk category and as his family were back home in India there was no chance of passing on the virus to loved ones.

“The first few days ... were scary,” said Dr Singh, whose wife and two children aged 3 and 7 live in Punjab.

“Even as doctors we did not know much about the virus then so there was still a lot of nervousness.

A 14-day quarantine at home gave Dr Singh precious time to study for medical exams he is due to take later this year.

“This coronavirus has not stopped me wanting to be a doctor,” said Dr Singh. “My job is very important, particularly at this time. I must continue doing this work.

“The hardest thing is being away from my family. I did not tell my wife or family for two months that I had the virus. I did not want them to worry.”

The doctor worried about her parents

Dr Iffat Sultana, an internal medicine consultant at NMC Royal Hospital, tested positive on April 19.

“A day before I had screened 38 patients and all had flulike symptoms,” the Pakistani resident said. “That was a typical day at that time.”

Dr Sultana, who is single and has been in the UAE for six years, had mild symptoms, including conjunctivitis, or pink eye. Several colleagues also tested positive at the same time.

“There was a lot of anxiety among all of us,” Dr Sultana said. “Doctors are human too so there was a lot of nervousness as soon as news of the virus came out of China.

“We all knew the UAE is such an international hub so it was inevitable it would come here.”

Dr Sultana, 40, spent three days in hospital, then isolated at home for a week.

“Both of my elderly parents are with me in Dubai so I was worried for them,” she said. “I knew 90 per cent of people made a full recovery but I did not want to tell them I had the virus as I did not want them to worry them.”

Dr Sultana has gone back to work and has treated many more patients. "Working for 15 years in this field I understand this is part of the life I have chosen,” she said.

“It is my duty to help society when it needs my profession most.”

The nurse who gave hope to her patients 

Seema Mary Rajan, 39, a nurse at Al Zahra Hospital in Sharjah, tested positive in May.

“It was terrifying at first, I was so scared,” said the Indian mum of one. “But when I recovered and went back to work I saw the impact my recovery had on the patients.

“It helped them to stay positive.”

Ms Rajan said her symptoms included a shortness of breath, feeling faint and vigorous coughing.

She added that working in an intensive care ward with Covid-19 victims had prepared her for the worst.

“The staff were taking precautions like taking extra vitamin C each day to keep our immune systems strong,” she said.

“I made a full recovery after a few weeks. I tell people it’s important to keep themselves healthy so they can be protected against the virus.”

The medic who could not see his elderly mother for months

A doctor at the same hospital said the most difficult aspect of testing positive for Covid-19 was not being able to see his mother for three months.

“She is 82 and I was worried about her health, especially because I work in the emergency department,” said Dr Mohamad Karima.

“I knew she could be affected at any time so I had sent her to my brother, who also lives in Sharjah, long before I tested positive.”

The Syrian father of five said testing positive had proved a difficult experience.

“Spending quarantine at home was no problem for me as I had no symptoms other than a shortness of breath and feeling weak, but I was worried about my family,” said Dr Karima, 56. “Thankfully they all tested negative.”