An overseas Filipina worker (OFW) nurse was suspended from working at a hospital in Saudi Arabia after being blamed for the switching of two newborn babies.
According to OFW nurse Gina (real name withheld), she was suspended from working at a hospital there to make way for the investigation of the case after CCTV footage from the day of the incident showed that she was the only one on duty that time.
Gina, however, said that there were two of them during the shift.
“‘Yun po, sinasabi nila na ako ang may kasalanan, pero hindi naman ako ang nagbigay ng bata. Ako daw ang nagpalit ng bata, hindi naman ako aware na napalit ang bata dahil ang dami ko talagang trabaho. Sampu ang bata at dalawang bagong silang … ang hirap po mag-isa po,” Gina told GMA News.
The family of the newborn babies decided not to continue with the case but demanded for a refund of their medical expenses which must be shouldered by the OFW and the hospital’s management.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Welfare Officer James Mendiola said that the OFW will pay around Php138,800 for the families’ medical expenses.
Labor Attache Nasser Munder said that the government will negotiate with the hospital to help the OFW.
“Ine-negotiate natin sa ospital. Alam naman natin ang financial capabilities ng worker maliit lang buwanang sahod, at since may pagkukulangan din ang ospital dahil under staff tapos pinapagtrabaho pa siya kahit na nagpasabi na siya na siya ay uuwi,” Munder said.
