JEDDAH: One of Saudi Arabia’s top doctors has defeated COVID-19 and has left the hospital where he was treated for three weeks.
Dr. Nezar Bahabri is an infectious disease consultant who had a steady presence on TV screens and social media platforms even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early March.
During the outbreak he had been helping spread awareness about the importance of taking steps to battle the spread of the disease as well as fighting fake news about it.
The consultant addressed his discharge from hospital in a short social media post that also explained why he was admitted in the first place.
“I’m Nezar Bahabri and I was infected by coronavirus,” was the short but straightforward start to the post.
The consultant confessed to making the mistake of taking it easy when it came to precautionary measures and wearing a mask, ignoring the warning signs before his health deteriorated.
“I, like hundreds and thousands of heroes before me, were performing our duties treating patients infected and got infected with the same infection that we were treating patients for.”
With an oxygen tank by his side, he sent a message to “the white army” and urged them to wear a mask and not make the same mistakes he did.
His second piece of advice was to never ignore the signs. “Even my patients would tell me that I looked ill, I would ignore (that) and take pain killers,” he said. “My advice is to calm down and learn.”
Videos of his ICU discharge circulated on social media, with staff showering him with flowers in celebration of his release after three weeks in the unit.
But, in line with his usual style, Bahabri continued to advise his followers and specifically COVID-19 patients to never give up.
He described the three weeks as the hardest of his life, and reminded people that 80 percent of confirmed COVID-19 patients had mild symptoms.
“If you are from the 20 percent and your breathing is constricted, head to the hospital and don’t wait,” he said, adding that if the fever lasted more than five days then patients must head to the hospital.
“Remember, less than 5 percent of patients with breathing complications due to COVID-19 are admitted to the ICU.”
He warned anyone with symptoms to stay vigilant and not to neglect their health. He expressed his gratitude for everyone’s prayers and said he would continue with his rehabilitation at home until he was fully recovered.
His final advice to everyone was to be patient. “Life doesn’t stop,” he said.
Top Saudi doctor defeats COVID-19 following 3-week treatment
https://arab.news/rrp2x
Top Saudi doctor defeats COVID-19 following 3-week treatment
- I’m Nezar Bahabri. I, like hundreds and thousands of heroes before me, were performing our duties treating patients infected and got infected with the same infection that we were treating patients for
Jeddah Fit Expo 2026 offers inspiration, innovation
- Sports, fitness, wellness in spotlight at Jeddah Superdome
- Gyms and fitness brands offer visitors a wide range of interactive experiences
JEDDAH: Jeddah Superdome welcomed more than 1,000 athletes of all ages on Wednesday for a heart-pounding session which placed sports, fitness and wellness in the spotlight.
The Jeddah Fit Expo 2026 is taking place until Jan. 31 and visitors on the first day were treated to a heady environment filled with high-intensity energy and in which cutting-edge fitness trends met the inspirational spirit of sportsmanship.
More than 300 brands and over 200 exhibitors engaged in in-depth exchanges and interactions according to organizers, while jointly forging an event for the global sports and fitness industry.
Mohammed Al-Aidarous, from the event’s organizing committee, told Arab News the expo aimed to spread the culture of fitness as a daily lifestyle and sought to encourage best international expertise and practices, while empowering and developing local sports talents.
He said: “The sports and fitness industry is a rapidly growing sector globally. Especially in Saudi Arabia, there is an increasing focus on health and fitness among the general public. Consequently there is a growing demand for fitness-related products and services.”
The exhibition, which is in its fourth edition, has brought together suppliers of fitness equipment and sports and leisure products, along with representatives from nutrition and health sectors, wellness clinics, youth sports education, and artificial intelligence solution providers.
Many of the participants are introducing new products to meet changing market trends, leveraging the national fitness policies, deeply exploring market demand, and expanding their presence in the sports industry market, thereby providing users with more professional services.
Gyms and fitness brands at the event are offering visitors a wide range of interactive, educational and commercial opportunities designed to promote healthy lifestyles while showcasing the latest industry innovations.
Danya Aljamal, an event coordinator at GymNation, said: “We are here to show sports enthusiasts who we are and what we can do to make them change their lifestyle with sports. GymNation is about enjoying your time, having fun, challenging yourself and making the best form of your body.”
She added: “We will be offering visitors our famous Hyrox class. It is designed to help enhance your strength and explosive power through a combination of targeted, high-intensity exercises and I hope people enjoy it.”
AI is rapidly reshaping athletic training environments. The exhibition features platforms that analyze an athlete’s movement, track progress, and offer automated corrections.
Saudi entrepreneur Mohammed Kaki, founder and CEO of FitLife, an Al-powered health-tech startup delivering B2B personalized nutrition and wellness plans, said: “We are proud to share the FitLife platform and feel excited to take these insights and relationships to the next level during this three-day event.
“FitLife is an app developed to make people’s fitness journey much easier and more convenient. Our algorithms were developed to produce accurate programs with a full range of workouts and recipes designed to fit people’s daily schedule and preferences.
“Our objective at FitLife is to foster growth and revolutionize the way people perceive health and fitness.”
Kaki indicated that the startup was also aiming to support coaches and specialists in sports and health organizations through AI solutions.
Beyond the exhibition stands and workshops, bodybuilding, calisthenics, taekwondo and volleyball are among the activities taking place at Jeddah Superdome.
