India: Kerala doctor takes care of baby for a month after parents test COVID-19 positive

Dubai: Amid these challenging times of COVID-19, how hard will it be for a mum to stay away from her child? On Wednesday, a 6-month-old baby, Elvin, was reunited with his parents, Eldose and Sheena who were under treatment for COVID-19 in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala after a month. But what's more interesting is while he jumps into his mother arms, he turns back and looks for his foster mother, Dr Anita, a clinical psychologist by profession.

Dr Anita is the chairman of the centre for empowerment and enrichment that helps people with determination. She came to the scene when none of Elvin's relatives showed interest in looking after him.

Talking to a news source, Sheena said: “The doctor was a God-send. Nobody would come forward to take care of a baby of a Covid-19 patient. I respect her as well as her family who supported her decision.’’

Reportedly, Eldose and Sheena have two kids. They live in Perumbavoor town in Ernakulam district. When they came to know that they were infected with COVID-19, their elder son was sent to his grandmother, but no one came forward to take care of Elwin. The child welfare board in Ernakulam started looking for some reliable person to foster the child. After knowing this situation, Dr Anitha took up the responsibility, and his parents can't thank her enough for what she has done.

Eldose confirmed coronavirus positive when he visited Haryana. As he went for treatment, he sent his wife and children to their home town. But coronavirus didn't spare Sheena, although the children weren't affected.

“On Sunday, June 14, the child welfare committee approached me… By the time the issue reached me, the baby had lived with his mother for several days after she tested positive and his chances of getting infected were very high,” Dr Anitha said while talking to a local newspaper.

Dr Anitha, who fostered 6-month-old Elvin has gone under observation at Ernakulam medical college. As the child tested negative, she, along with him, took a rented flat for a few days and later she moved to her own home. During this period, she also used to make video calls to the baby’s parents, who were under treatment.

Anitha has three children Nimrodhin, Manesa and Moushni. Elwin was a part of their family, and they couldn't hold back the tears when his parents came to take him.