![Ruth Kiruba, a nurse at the NMC Royal Hospital. She is back to work treating patients and expecting a child.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YZE7XJAISFITTJTBHA5QVUTHLM.jpg?smart=true&auth=554af1b32e6107ea05a8ed6b7d657f5f724b32b299ad8f3df2f308b7fb4fd197&width=400&height=225)
![Dr Mohamad Karima, who works at Al Zahra Hospital, Sharjah. All those pictured have recovered and all photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/33JMHL7ZLULRSJWLHUL2VWJ74U.jpg?smart=true&auth=dac78a20f052d1569de9d5fa211be9661398e67ce75f879e91bd4049a21d452b&width=400&height=225)
![Dr Ashar Jamal, from Al Zahra Hospital, was in hospital for a week after his health deteriorated because of Covid-19.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LAOTDQHU5S255JBTZYFOB5LNRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b7278f491583175ede473044ca35fe3d8460b26c1c4f4abba01f3ad7dfb63a19&width=400&height=225)
![Renu Venugopal, who is a nurse at Al Zahra Hospital. The frontline staff at hospitals bore the brunt of the pandemic.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ARN7IRKW4PNQ2NNQSCFGPIYCAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=be3446d60bcd41443d5ba4f0d29f3d298c315c56b9262e2eb08e7243d9ceab44&width=400&height=225)
![Seema Mary, a nurse at Medcare hospital, Sharjah. Her Covid-19 ordeal helped patients believe they too could recover, she said.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZPQ245TY67BGIROWFURQ4XOMSU.jpg?smart=true&auth=5a54885ec6efa553690bfe670913f0439b809a9ae8dff3fe0eb25328c606986d&width=400&height=225)
![Dr Davinder Singh a cardiologist at the NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai. The first few days after being diagnosed were scary, he said.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FMOCSIYRQZA6M3BUBMITKI6TKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=7be69d34489f8494c3572f38109d9c58062051876eca012f9fdfba00d78cf5ae&width=400&height=225)
![Joslin Coelho, who is a nurse at the NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai Investments Park.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IIZGMQRTXU73JB4HGT47LLO6JU.jpg?smart=true&auth=20404182f21a7b7c5496fdc29147514d6902097155be4851bc5e0cc5bd4bd27d&width=400&height=225)
![Silpa Suresh also a nurse at the NMC Royal Hospital. She has returned to work.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RUP55Z2OSZVFBDYVTS5ZAF3YS4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b8c0127604af317b546138215bdc5360d44b7118649e5bcfbc16614e15981cd1&width=400&height=225)
![Keshar Bahadur a laboratory ward assistant at the NMC Royal Hospital, DIP. Hospitals filled with patients during the peak of the pandemic.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R3XT5V2PXW5CDNGFEJQTLJD3XM.jpg?smart=true&auth=fc4e4ebaf3c1187ff5ceade1b80acf4ded4b756a7402929ca3a81cf416202d8d&width=400&height=225)
![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.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NCBKCKGKAOPOSU6FATQDCZZQXY.jpg?smart=true&auth=42eea51d1e4ab78ef005b8053bdbfb2fa787680af8f522af8dcf38aa664b31c8&width=400&height=225)
![Aldrian Tomas, a customer care representative at the NMC Royal Hospital, Dubai Investments Park.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V7Y6Q6QOPJZOF7M6DTRXW3A4B4.jpg?smart=true&auth=942a23d80ec7c95c61d7da48bbffd342fd52c72f38065ee3649dee1c23fbb627&width=400&height=225)
![Jephy Antony, who also works as a nurse at the NMC Royal Hospital. Like his colleagues, Mr Antony has also gone back to work.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6SEJFMSB733QJ7C6UNKNGPJ23Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=8ec4234a7eae78287b4d06b18c21cb39fd4add67017ef5308d3d7c27caa64e57&width=400&height=225)
![Jomon Joy, a ward attendant at the NMC Royal Hospital. Hospitals have since seen a reduction in the number of patients.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/47DIGTQ6VFKSAEJHYNNWHXOGZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=de55dbd48092faf33d6a5e33bb4a741ddc3940ef8d6aad461f2ce3f6abe88506&width=400&height=225)
![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.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LZMLBDGIH5GD7MF3CWGLBOT4JI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9cacd87f5ff82ee2fe6bb9e75da08f383552b7776fb6ceeed1e5474b457d4278&width=400&height=225)
![Ruth Kiruba, a nurse at the NMC Royal Hospital. She is back to work treating patients and expecting a child.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YZE7XJAISFITTJTBHA5QVUTHLM.jpg?smart=true&auth=554af1b32e6107ea05a8ed6b7d657f5f724b32b299ad8f3df2f308b7fb4fd197&width=400&height=225)
![Dr Mohamad Karima, who works at Al Zahra Hospital, Sharjah. All those pictured have recovered and all photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/33JMHL7ZLULRSJWLHUL2VWJ74U.jpg?smart=true&auth=dac78a20f052d1569de9d5fa211be9661398e67ce75f879e91bd4049a21d452b&width=400&height=225)
![Dr Ashar Jamal, from Al Zahra Hospital, was in hospital for a week after his health deteriorated because of Covid-19.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LAOTDQHU5S255JBTZYFOB5LNRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b7278f491583175ede473044ca35fe3d8460b26c1c4f4abba01f3ad7dfb63a19&width=400&height=225)
![Renu Venugopal, who is a nurse at Al Zahra Hospital. The frontline staff at hospitals bore the brunt of the pandemic.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ARN7IRKW4PNQ2NNQSCFGPIYCAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=be3446d60bcd41443d5ba4f0d29f3d298c315c56b9262e2eb08e7243d9ceab44&width=400&height=225)
![Seema Mary, a nurse at Medcare hospital, Sharjah. Her Covid-19 ordeal helped patients believe they too could recover, she said.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZPQ245TY67BGIROWFURQ4XOMSU.jpg?smart=true&auth=5a54885ec6efa553690bfe670913f0439b809a9ae8dff3fe0eb25328c606986d&width=400&height=225)
![Dr Davinder Singh a cardiologist at the NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai. The first few days after being diagnosed were scary, he said.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FMOCSIYRQZA6M3BUBMITKI6TKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=7be69d34489f8494c3572f38109d9c58062051876eca012f9fdfba00d78cf5ae&width=400&height=225)
![Joslin Coelho, who is a nurse at the NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai Investments Park.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IIZGMQRTXU73JB4HGT47LLO6JU.jpg?smart=true&auth=20404182f21a7b7c5496fdc29147514d6902097155be4851bc5e0cc5bd4bd27d&width=400&height=225)
![Silpa Suresh also a nurse at the NMC Royal Hospital. She has returned to work.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RUP55Z2OSZVFBDYVTS5ZAF3YS4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b8c0127604af317b546138215bdc5360d44b7118649e5bcfbc16614e15981cd1&width=400&height=225)
![Keshar Bahadur a laboratory ward assistant at the NMC Royal Hospital, DIP. Hospitals filled with patients during the peak of the pandemic.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R3XT5V2PXW5CDNGFEJQTLJD3XM.jpg?smart=true&auth=fc4e4ebaf3c1187ff5ceade1b80acf4ded4b756a7402929ca3a81cf416202d8d&width=400&height=225)
![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.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NCBKCKGKAOPOSU6FATQDCZZQXY.jpg?smart=true&auth=42eea51d1e4ab78ef005b8053bdbfb2fa787680af8f522af8dcf38aa664b31c8&width=400&height=225)
![Aldrian Tomas, a customer care representative at the NMC Royal Hospital, Dubai Investments Park.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V7Y6Q6QOPJZOF7M6DTRXW3A4B4.jpg?smart=true&auth=942a23d80ec7c95c61d7da48bbffd342fd52c72f38065ee3649dee1c23fbb627&width=400&height=225)
![Jephy Antony, who also works as a nurse at the NMC Royal Hospital. Like his colleagues, Mr Antony has also gone back to work.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6SEJFMSB733QJ7C6UNKNGPJ23Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=8ec4234a7eae78287b4d06b18c21cb39fd4add67017ef5308d3d7c27caa64e57&width=400&height=225)
![Jomon Joy, a ward attendant at the NMC Royal Hospital. Hospitals have since seen a reduction in the number of patients.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/47DIGTQ6VFKSAEJHYNNWHXOGZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=de55dbd48092faf33d6a5e33bb4a741ddc3940ef8d6aad461f2ce3f6abe88506&width=400&height=225)
![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.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LZMLBDGIH5GD7MF3CWGLBOT4JI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9cacd87f5ff82ee2fe6bb9e75da08f383552b7776fb6ceeed1e5474b457d4278&width=400&height=225)
![Ruth Kiruba, a nurse at the NMC Royal Hospital. She is back to work treating patients and expecting a child.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YZE7XJAISFITTJTBHA5QVUTHLM.jpg?smart=true&auth=554af1b32e6107ea05a8ed6b7d657f5f724b32b299ad8f3df2f308b7fb4fd197&width=400&height=225)
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
Patrick Ryan
September 03, 2020
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic
September 03, 2020