Don’t ignore symptoms: Actor after recovery

abu dhabi — Please don’t ignore symptoms, urges Omani actor Ibrahim Al Zadjali, who just recovered from Covid-19 at Abu Dhabi’s Burjeel Hospital.

Al Zadjali, known for his performances in television series Muftah

Alqafel and Kunna ’ams, had come to Abu Dhabi two months ago for the shoot of another television series. He can’t recollect how he got infected but believes it’s from one of the shooting locations as some crew members had fallen sick then. Unfortunately, the 50-year-old ignored his initial signs of infection. “I took rest for about a week in my room. It was after that I began to feel unwell. My body was aching and there was a loss of appetite. However, I never suspected it to be Covid-19. I didn’t go to a hospital fearing the chance of an infection,” he said.

But as pain aggravated, he consulted doctors at Burjeel Hospital and was diagnosed with pneumonia. His nasal and swab tests later confirmed virus infection.

Dr Rania Zein Eldein, specialist respiratory medicine, Burjeel Hospital, said Al Zadjali was admitted on April 27. “We found that he had developed pneumonia. We almost confirmed he had been infected. We started medication soon without waiting for his test results. Later, his swab result came as we expected.”

Though Al Zadjali seemed healthy, his condition worsened and faced breathless as his oxygen saturation level went low. “That was a frightening episode. It was on the fourth day that I felt breathing difficulty. I was on medication. But it affected my morale and I became sad. But the doctor and nurses motivated me and helped to get rid of it.”

WELL DONE: Ibrahim Al Zadjali received standing ovation from the medical staff of Burjeel Hospital as he left the facility on Friday.

Al Zadjali was advised respiratory exercises and in a week he was out of risk. “That was a big relief. There were no symptoms anymore. But my test result had to come negative. I started doing exercise, reading Quran, and watching television to spend my day.”

Medical staff real superheroes

It took one more week to get a negative result. “I am extremely grateful to Dr Rania, Dr Abbas Wahub Allah Abuelgasim, and the medical team at Burjeel Hospital for their great care and support. It would not have been easy for me without their encouragement and moral support, particularly since my family was in Oman and I was all alone here. Doctors and nurses are the real superheroes,” he said, adding that the UAE government has set up an efficient system to deal with the crisis.

I took rest for about a week in my room. My body was aching and there was a loss of appetite. However, I never suspected it to be Covid-19.” Ibrahim Al Zadjali, Omani actor

‘Don’t panic, stay strong’

He added that persons testing for Covid-19 should not panic and stay strong. “People shouldn’t ignore any symptoms. My condition became worse as I avoided going to the hospital. Also, persons once relieved from symptoms must start exercising on the advice of doctors. I used to exercise inside the isolation room and it had really helped me.”

Discharged on Friday after his third swab test came negative, Al Zadjali has travelled to his home in Oman and will undergo 14 days in quarantine.