Combating coronavirus: 3-year-old expat becomes youngest to beat Covid-19 in UAE

A three-year-old girl has become the youngest patient to have recovered from the coronavirus in the UAE.

Nivediya and her parents - mother Geetu Shyam and father Shyam - fought off Covid-19 after treatment at Amina Hospital.

Geetu Shyam, a frontline health care worker at Anglo Arabian Healthcare Northern Emirates, initially contracted the virus while carrying out her duties.

She and her family were screened after developing Covid-19 symptoms and tested positive. The family was devastated when they came to know that their child had also contracted the virus.

They were admitted to the hospital.

Dr Jenny John Cheriathu, specialist paediatrician and treating physician, said: "Nivediya was in moderate severity of Covid-19 who soon recovered from her symptoms upon treatment with hydroxychloroquine and supportive medications. Although she is a preschooler, she showed immense maturity in following all instructions and being extremely co-operative with the staff." He added: "The hospital ensured optimal clinical care and psychological support to the family to overcome the disease."

Dr Mohamed Khalid, specialist internal medicine and treating physician of both the parents, said: "Both parents developed pneumonia which is a common complication of Covid-19 virus, but in these cases early detection and early treatment aided the speedy recovery."

As part of the global efforts to break the chain of spreading the virus, the hospital has conducted education and training awareness campaigns in government entities, educational institutions and private sector companies.