Paediatrician working in Kadapa government hospital succumbs to Covid-19

KADAPA: A children’s specialist working at the Badvel Government Hospital became the first government doctor succumbing to Covid-19 in Kadapa district.

Dr Nandakumar was an alumnus of Kadapa RIMS Hospital belonging to 2007-13 batch. He had been working as a paediatrician at Badvel Government Hospital for the past three years. Dr Nandakumar had contracted Coronavirus a couple of months ago but recovered. Last week, he was again diagnosed with Covid-19. When his condition turned critical on Saturday, his family members shifted him to a private hospital in Chennai, where he died on Sunday morning.

Scores of government and private doctors had been diagnosed with the disease after the Coronavirus epidemic spread in Kadapa district. About 25 postgraduate medicos, 30 house surgeons, 25 nurses, 15 doctors, 30 supporting staff, and 20 sanitation staff on duty at Kadapa RIMS Hospitals had been affected by the virus. However, they all recovered. About 10 private doctors working at Fatima Institute of Medical Sciences have similarly recovered.

Hospital support staff, who succumbed to Coronavirus in Kadapa district, include Dadini Eshwarayya, 58, a health educator with the medical and health department. He died at Kurnool hospital while undergoing treatment. A few other non-medical staff also succumbed. But Dr Nandakumar was the first government doctor to die of Covid-19.

District Covid Hospital in-charge Dr Sureswar Reddy, speaking to Deccan Chronicle, said he is pained at losing Dr Nandakumar, his erstwhile student. He requested all doctors to take great care when providing medical assistance to Covid patients.