THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A three-week-old baby girl abandoned in the ICU of a private hospital by her parents from Jharkhand, is now healthy in the Ernakulam General Hospital. The child welfare committee will take over the baby tomorrow after a month of treatment. Health Minister Veena George named the baby 'Nidhi' at the request of the hospital superintendent. Every child is a precious asset, and this daughter too and that is why she has been named 'Nidhi'.

The couple from Jharkhand were working at a fish farm in Kottayam. While travelling home for delivery, the woman developed health issues on the train and was taken to the nearest hospital, where she gave birth. Since the baby weighed less than a kilogram, she was shifted to the NICU of a private hospital for further treatment. The baby’s parents later went missing. After noticing this news, Minister Veena George directed to take over the care and treatment of the baby. The baby was taken to Ernakulam General Hospital and ensured expert care. It was also decided to allocate the amount spent on the baby's treatment in the private hospital through the Children's Fund of the Women and Child Development Department as determined by the director of the health department.

The treatment was coordinated by forming a medical board. The baby was given oxygen for about a week. She was given blood as she was anemic. The baby is now 37 weeks old and weighs two and a half kilos. The baby was treated by a team of expert doctors led by Dr Vineetha, Head of the Pediatric Department, and Dr Viji, Special Officer, under the coordination of the hospital superintendent, Dr Shahirshah.