Passengers walk past the medical quarantine area showing information sheet for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus at the arrival section of Manila’s International Airport in Paranaque, south of Manila.
(AP Photo)
Vigilance is high among Filipino communities in the United Arab Emirates capital after a 45-year-old paramedic recently died of the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Al Ain, 160 km east of Abu Dhabi.
For many Filipinos here, awareness and preventive measures are crucial in protecting themselves against the deadly virus.
Though most workers have mandatory health insurance which gives them free access to medicine, doctors and hospitals, many Filipinos still remain cautious about the MERS-CoV.
Arlyn Salvador, a native of Surigao City and a mother of two, said she and her husband are taking every effort to protect their family. She said she even rescheduled her appointment in Tawam Hospital in Al Ain for two months because she is worried of the situation.
Memo
“We are all worried and afraid. We just all have to be extra careful and as much as possible avoid going to public places most specially hospitals,” Salvador said.
Menzie Balangao, 26 who works in a pharmacy along Khalifa Street, Abu Dhabi said they noticed a number of Filipinos buying surgical masks, an uncommon sight before the incident. “The day the news broke out about our kabayan who died in Al Ain, we ran out of face masks and most of those who bought were Filipinos.
I guess this is normal now because we are vigilant and cautious. Who would want to contract such a deadly virus?,” she said.
Maricel Cayon, 30 who hails from Cebu, said she is glad her company provided them hand sanitizers.
“A memo was circulated to all employees that we should be cautious and vigilant. The memo provided tips on how to avoid contracting the virus.”
Ray Reyes, who works in Rotana Hotel in Dubai, said they were also given face masks and sanitizers.
“Before we were complacent but now we are really cautious since we are exposed to a lot of visitors and customers every hour,” Reyes said.
DESTINATION
Junnefer Tenchavez, who works in an oil company based in Habshan, 150km from Abu Dhabi, said many of his Filipino colleagues stopped going to Abu Dhabi during their weekend breaks for fear of contracting the virus.
Next to Dubai, Abu Dhabi is a popular holiday destination in the Middle East as it is home to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi – the world’s largest indoor theme park.
“Our company has already circulated an awareness e-mail to all its employees and we are taking it seriously,” he said.
Abundio Versoza Esporlas, who worked for Al Ain Rescue and Ambulance Section of the Ministry of Interior, died last April 10, after contracting MERS-CoV.
Clinically dead
Esporlas, who was described by colleagues and friends in Al Ain as a “selfless friend”, was brought to Al Ain hospital after falling ill last April 6.
He was told he had bronchitis that later developed into pneumonia.
A report published by The National, an Abu-Dhabi-based English broadsheet, said the Filipino paramedic was diagnosed with MERS-CoV last Apr. 8 where he was declared clinically dead after his kidneys started to fail. The report also added he was pronounced dead on April 10.
Mary Ann Pepito of Cebu who lives in Deira, Dubai, said most Filipinos in her area are confident that the virus won’t spread.
“We are not alarmed although we are taking precautions. Most of us here drink Vitamin C and we prioritize proper hygiene. My friend who is working in a hospital here said things are normal, there’s no need to panic,” Pepito said.
The Ministry of Health and the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD) advised residents to frequently wash their hands with soap or use alcohol before and after eating, handling, cooking and preparing food.
(Report by Maryam del Prado. The author is a former Cebu Daily News correspondent who is now working in Abu Dhabi, UAE – Editor)