OFW dies of brain hemorrhage in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A 38-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Lobo, Batangas, and employed as a household service worker (HSW) died Sunday, July 14, reportedly of aneurysm, 3 days after she was rushed to a Sharjah hospital unconscious.

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, Flores said, explaining that the deceased OFW, identified as Merely de Chavez Mora, had a valid employment visa.

“The sponsor will shoulder repatriation expenses as per UAE law. Alam naman ng sponsor ang responsibility niya. Nagtatanong lang siya ng procedures para maisagawa po niya ang proseso (The sponsor knows about his responsibility. He’s just inquiring about the procedures so he can begin the process),” said Flores.

He added: “Pinapunta na namin ‘yung employer dito [sa konsulado] para maturuan ng proseso at ma-guide, para mapauwi niya po kaagad ang body. Alam na din daw ng family sa Pilipinas.”

(We asked the employer to come here to the consulate so we can inform him about the process and guide him, so the body can be repatriated immediately. The OFW’s family in the Philippines already knows about her death.)

A nurse working at the Sharjah hospital where Mora was rushed last Thursday, July 11, said the OFW was placed under watch of the Intensive Care Unit.

“Dinala po siya doon, unconscious at may brain hemorrhage (She was brought there, unconscious and with brain hemorrhage),” said the nurse.

OFW with depression

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 a medical checkup where it was established that she was stressed out, said Flores.

“Nakausap po namin siya at napa-medical, okay naman na siya. Stressed since walang makuhang work at wala pang matitirahan. Nakausap niya na din ang mother niya. Mag-apply pa daw siya if papalarin; otherwise, babalik siya sa amin para magpa-repatriate. Valid pa naman tourist visa niya,” the ATN officer said.

(We already talked to her and she underwent a medical checkup, and she’s now okay. She was stressed since she has yet to find a job and a place to stay at. She was also able to talk to her mother. She said she’ll still continue applying for a job and hopefully she’ll get lucky; otherwise, she will return to us for repatriation. Her tourist visa remains valid.)

Top causes of death

Brain stroke and hemorrhage are among the 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 this figure, 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. – Rappler.com

This story was republished with permission from The Filipino Times of the United Arab Emirates.