Almost four months after the coronavirus has been identified as a global health crisis, the global death toll has already reached 200,000 and has left millions of people jobless.
As the numbers continue to rise, a growing number of our front-liners have also succumbed to the effects of the life-threatening coronavirus. Abu Dhabi-based Filipina Nurse Succumbs to Covid-19 Complications
In line with this, the Philippine Nurses Association-UAE (PNA-UAE) chapter has confirmed the death of another Filipina nurse due to the Covid-19.
The Abu Dhabi-based Filipina nurse identified as Janette Alano succumbed to the complications of Covid-19 while rendering care and service to her patients.
To this, the Philippine Nurses Association-UAE Chapter praised the Filipina’s bravery and passion to heal the sick, naming her a hero for her dedication. A Facebook post shared by the PNA said: “ANOTHER FALLEN HERO BASED IN ABU DHABI, UAE 💔💔💔 “A hero who has given her life to something bigger than oneself”. We mourn for the passing of our fellow nurse Ma’am Janette Daywan Alano. You made a good fight. May you REST IN PEACE.”
Earlier, 44-year old Filipino nurse, Marlon Jimenea, also succumbed to the complications of the Covid-19 in Dubai. Marlon had worked as a front-liner in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the University Hospital of Sharjah.
Marlon’s wife, who also works as a nurse, requested to have her husband’s ashes be brought home to the Philippines. She also asked for educational assistance for their 6-year-old daughter.
Despite the tragic news, the situation also sheds some light on the current healthcare situation in many Gulf countries including the UAE.
The situation the world is currently in has highlighted the important roles foreigners play, especially in the healthcare sector.
It can be recalled that some Gulf states have pushed for the expulsion of foreign workers in certain sectors to create jobs for their own citizens.
However, what the situation right now shows is that many of the foreigners overseas are working on the residents’ health, completely holding the countries’ health systems together.
The crisis has also shed some light on the systemic inequality in these workers’ home countries that drives so many to the region in the first place.
It is also worth noting that foreigners make up the vast majority of the roughly 78,000 confirmed coronavirus cases overall in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.
In the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, foreigners also make up the vast majority of the population. Most hail from India, Pakistan, Nepal, the Philippines, and Egypt.
SOURCE : DUBAIOFW