DUBAI: A 38-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Lobo, Batangas and employed as a household service worker (HSW), today died reportedly of aneurysm, three days after she was rushed to a Sharjah hospital unconscious.
This even as a Filipino jobseeker staying in Dubai on a visit visa was taken under immediate care of the Philippine Consulate after she exhibited signs of chronic depression.
Marco Flores of the Philippine Consulate General’s Assistance to Nationals (ATN) section told The Filipino Times the case of the deceased HSW has been referred to Welfare Officer Danilo Flores for immediate action.
The repatriation of the remains will be shouldered by the employer, Marco said, explaining that the deceased OFW, identified as Merly de Chavez Mora, had a valid employment visa.
“The sponsor will shoulder repatriation expenses as per UAE law. Alam namnn ng sponsor ang responsibility niya. Nagtatanong lang sya ng procedures para maisagawa po nya ang proseso,” said Marco.
He added, “Pinapunta na namin yung employer dito (sa konsulado) para maturuan ng proseso at ma-guide, para mapauwe nya po kaagad ang body. Alam na din daw ng family sa Pilipinas.”
Mora had just renewed her passport which issued a few months back and valid for 10 years till 2028.
A nurse working at the same Sharjah hospital where Mora was rushed last Thursday said the OFW was placed under watch of the Intensive Care Unit. “Dinala po sya duon, unconscious at may brain hemorrhage,” said the nurse.
Meantime, another OFW, who has been in Dubai on a visit visa was taken under immediate care of the consulate’s ATN staff late last week after she exhibited signs of depression for not being able to find a job.
Eva Reyes (not her real name) has undergone medical check-up where it was established that she was stressed-out, said Marco.
“Nakausap po namin sya at napa-medical, ok naman na sya. Stressed since walang makuhang work at wala pang matitirahan. Nakausap nya na din ang mother nya. Mag-apply pa daw sya if papalarin; otherwise, babalik sya sa amin para magpa-repatriate. Valid pa naman tourist visa niya,” the ATN officer said.
It will be noted that brain stroke and hemorrhage are among top killers of OFWs in the UAE.
A report published recently by The Filipino Times, citing documents made available by the ATN section, showed that there were 172 deaths last year of which, 81 – or 47% – were due to heart attack and related conditions; while 27 – or about 16% – were brain-related like intracranial hemorrhage.
Cardiac arrest and brain bleeding were also the top OFW killers in 2017.
Data obtained from Vice Consul Marianne Bringas revealed there were 68 cases of cardiac or pulmonary arrest listed as cause of death from January to October of that year – 44.15% of the total 154 deaths for the same period.
Brain hemorrhage accounted for 30 of the deaths – or 19.48%, with OFWs dying almost every month, ATN records also showed.
