By Josine F. Estuye
MANILA, (PNA) — Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday assured the family of a comatose overseas Filipino worker (OFW) that the government will shoulder the cost of the continued hospitalization.
Binay personally went to the Philippine General Hospital to make the assurance and to check on the OFW named Solaya Dabpagan, who was deported from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday.
“Our government does not abandon our OFWs suffering from cases like this. That is why we invited you here, to show you that we are ready to assist OFWs who are in need,” the vice president told reporters.
According to Binay, the 42-year-old Dabpagan is from Kabacan, North Cotabato, who worked as a domestic helper in the UAE.
She was illegaly recruited and left for Abu Dhabi in 2011 using the name Monera Galay Kamad.
The vice president added that the OFW has been unconscious since September 2011 after a brain bleed left her comatose.
A family member explained that Dabpagan’s fellow domestic helpers informed them she was found unconscious on a sidewalk, before she was brought to Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, where she was confined in the charity ward since Sept. 9, 2011.
Hospital records revealed that Dabpagan’s condition was caused by intracranial hemorrhage. Medical evaluation conducted last June also revealed the OFW is suffering from acute renal failure, acute respiratory failure, and stage 3 chronic kidney diseases.
Dabpagan’s employer however did not shoulder any of her medical expenses.
Binay said that according to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Dabpagan was supposed to be repatriated in September 2012, but at that time no hospital was willing to accept her.
The Vice President said the UAE government shouldered the cost of the processing and shouldering Dabpagan’s repatriation as well as her medical expenses while she was overseas.
In line with this, Binay lauded the UAE government, saying “she (Dabpagan) was bedridden in UAE for two years. You will admire the treatment they gave her because the doctors there were able to revive her. For two years she was taken cared for by the UAE government in Abu Dhabi.”
He also thanked the PGH for taking care of the OFW, saying “when (Dabpagan) came home, we did not know which hospital to put her in. Thankfully, the PGH did not hesitate to accept her.”
“PGH will take care of her. Carmelita Dimzon of OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Association) will also coordinate with PGH to determine how she will be cared for. Her brother will also be taught nursing care so he will be able to take care of her needs,” Binay added.