Another Filipina nurse dies of COVID in UAE

Community volunteer also succumbs to the virus

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A 31-year-old Filipina nurse, who was supposed to visit her five-year-old child in the Philippines but could not because of the lockdown back there, has died of COVID-19 as medical practitioners around the world observed International Nurses Day.

Lezly Ocampo Concepcion, passed away in the evening of May 12, Tuesday in an Abu Dhabi hospital, according to her cousin Manel Ocampo.

In Dubai, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) known for his consistent community volunteerism, also passed away due to COVID-19 on the same day.

Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes said Melchor Corpuz Mandac, a mechanic and member of the Task Force Tuklas, “was such a dedicated person.”

“True to the volunteer definition, he never thought that his job needed publicity. He did what was necessary and never aimed for the glorious part of volunteerism. He was always at my side during community events,” Cortes told reporters.

Task Force Tuklas is a group of Filipino volunteers in Dubai under the supervision of the government, recruited to assist in Covid-19 detection in the community. The group also assist on food relief efforts for displaced OFWs.

Nightingale

The UAE chapter of the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA), which posted news about her death, gave heartfelt condolences to Concepcion, the third nurse to have died of coronavirus infection in the country.

“The Filipino nursing community in UAE has lost another nightingale.  Farewell to you, ma’am Lezly. Our heartfelt condolences to the family and may you rest in peace. Real heroes don’t have a name on the back of their uniform, they have their country’s flag on the arm of a uniform,” PNA-UAE said.

Manel told Rappler in an interview from La Union that her cousin, Lezly, was supposed to go on a break to be with her daughter this month.

“Uuwi sana siya dito ngayong May yung pinsan ko kaso nagkaroon ng lockdown. Ngayon, uuwi nga po siya pero patay na. Worst abo nalang ang i-uuwi sa amin,” Manel said.

She said Lezly had told them through a family group chat that she tested positive to COVID-19. “Magme-May nuon nang pina-home quarantine siya,” Manel said.

She said the family learned about Lezly death by regularly keeping in touch with the Human Resource department at the company that employed her and with doctors at the hospital where she was put in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

“Nakikipag-ugnayan kami sa HR at sa doctor doon sa hospital kung saan siya na-ICU,” Manel said.

“Hindi niya deserved yun. May anak siya na 5-years old na naghihintay sa kanya. Napakabuti at masayahin niyang tao kaya sobrang sakit sa amin,” she said.

“Sobrang biglaan. Masakit yung pagkamatay niya kasi ang layo niya sa amin. Ang hirap tanggapin lalo na’t mag-isa lang siya doon sa Abu Dhabi at wala kaming magawa.

“Mas masakit lalo yung namatay na siya sa malayo pero hindi namin mahahawakan or makikita ang itsura niya kahit sa kabaong lamang kasi kailangan raw i-cremate kung gusto namin siya iuwi rito sa Pilipinas,” Manel said.

Lezly was the third nurse reported to have died in the UAE of COVID-19. On Mothers’ Day, Janette Daywan Alano, a charge nurse passed away also in Abu Dhabi while Marlon Jimenea, an ICU nurse in Sharjah, died on April 26.

Sacrifice

Meantime, Sherwin Achivara, one of Mandac’s four nephews in the UAE, said they had no idea their uncle was already suffering from coronavirus infection.

Mandac, it was later found out, had been having symptoms for the past two weeks. “Nakikita lang naming sa FB nya, sinasabi nya, ‘Pagod lang ito,’” Achivara said.

“Hindi naming alam na COVID na pala.”

Achivara recalled that someone from the hospital called to inform them that their uncle has been rushed to ER. He said they panicked.

Mandac was staying in Satwa; Achivara, at a workers’ accommodation in Al Quoz.

“Hirap raw huminga. Nagpanic kami. Nagsend ako ng message sa kanya kasi nakita ko naka-online pero hindi na sya naka-reply,” Achivara said.

 He said Mandac left behind four children and their mother in Pangasinan.  “Alam na po nila duon. Hindi sila makapaniwala dahil biglaan. Pati nga kami dito nagulat,” Achivara said.

Robel Beltran, a fellow volunteer, said Mandac was not able to undergo COVID test. “In-intubate agad. Dinala ng ambulance from the testing center to the hospital,” he said.

Jason Roi Bucton, Kalayaan 2020 Organizing Committee chairperson said Mandac has been known to set aside personal life for community service.

“Kahit sa mga huling sandali ng kanyang buhay, nag boluntaryo pa sya sa Dubai Police para masmakapagsilbi sa komunidad sa panahon ng pandemya, hanggang sya na mismo ang binawian dahil sa COVID,” he said.

 The numbers

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) announced on Thursday May 14, that total number of COVID cases in the UAE was at 21,084; there were 208 deaths; and 6,930 recoveries

MOHAP said it has conducted over 37,000 additional COVID-19 tests using state-of-the-art medical testing methods.