Gov’t told to step up efforts to assist paralyzed Pinay in Dubai
MANILA, Philippines — An alliance of organizations composed of overseas Filipinos and their families urged the government on Thursday to step up efforts to assist the paralyzed 29-year-old Filipina migrant worker hospitalized in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Baikan Mousa, a cleaner in the city on a visit visa, was paralyzed from the waist down after being struck by a car while crossing a street in Deira district of Dubai last December 31.
Reports earlier said Baikan, a native of Maguindanao province in the southern Philippines, cannot breathe or eat on her own, and is dependent on tubes to do these basic functions. Despite her paralysis, she is conscious and aware of her surroundings. She communicates mainly by blinking her eyes.
Her case was revealed recently by the Migrante-UAE chapter.
"The RP post in Dubai has sat on Baikan's case long enough. It's incumbent on the Arroyo government to increase efforts to ensure she receives the best care possible and that she is doing well physically and emotionally," said Connie Bragas-Regalado, chairperson of Migrante International.
"More than repatriation – government assistance to OFWs like Baikan should be comprehensive. For example, this could encompass ensuring that the driver who struck Baikan is brought to justice and that her family receives whatever support is needed to care for her when she is well enough to come home," she added.
According to reports, Baikan has received no visitors for the past six months and can only communicate by blinking her eyes. It was not clear if she had been visited by any welfare officer of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) office in Dubai.
Maria Felicia de la Cruz, one of the nurses at Rashid Hospital, said the last time they saw visitors was in January when Baikan’s friends came and dropped off her family albums.
"Baikan embodies the very tragic plight of OFWs, especially undocumented ones, the world over. While they are praised and hailed by the government as 'bagong bayani' for as long as they remit dollars home – they often must fend for themselves during their times of great distress," she added.
"It's the height of hypocrisy for Arroyo to declare in her SONA that she 'cares for OFWs' while Baikan struggles to live 'unwanted and alone', while thousands of OFWs languish in jail or on death row or while countless others toil as modern-day slaves apart from their loved ones," said Bragas-Regalado.
Migrante International estimates there are about 5,000 OFWs in prisons overseas, including more than 30 on death row. Migrante's Rights and Welfare Assistance Program also documents approximately 30-50 cases monthly of OFWs who are victims of various human rights violations and criminal neglect by the Arroyo administration.
"We commit to raising these cases to the international community when we hold our International Assembly of Migrants and Refugees this October to coincide with RP's hosting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development. The inhuman treatment of migrants as commodities by governments and international institutions like the World Bank must be unmasked and opposed," she said. - GMANews.TV
Baikan Mousa, a cleaner in the city on a visit visa, was paralyzed from the waist down after being struck by a car while crossing a street in Deira district of Dubai last December 31.
Reports earlier said Baikan, a native of Maguindanao province in the southern Philippines, cannot breathe or eat on her own, and is dependent on tubes to do these basic functions. Despite her paralysis, she is conscious and aware of her surroundings. She communicates mainly by blinking her eyes.
Her case was revealed recently by the Migrante-UAE chapter.
"The RP post in Dubai has sat on Baikan's case long enough. It's incumbent on the Arroyo government to increase efforts to ensure she receives the best care possible and that she is doing well physically and emotionally," said Connie Bragas-Regalado, chairperson of Migrante International.
"More than repatriation – government assistance to OFWs like Baikan should be comprehensive. For example, this could encompass ensuring that the driver who struck Baikan is brought to justice and that her family receives whatever support is needed to care for her when she is well enough to come home," she added.
According to reports, Baikan has received no visitors for the past six months and can only communicate by blinking her eyes. It was not clear if she had been visited by any welfare officer of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) office in Dubai.
Maria Felicia de la Cruz, one of the nurses at Rashid Hospital, said the last time they saw visitors was in January when Baikan’s friends came and dropped off her family albums.
"Baikan embodies the very tragic plight of OFWs, especially undocumented ones, the world over. While they are praised and hailed by the government as 'bagong bayani' for as long as they remit dollars home – they often must fend for themselves during their times of great distress," she added.
"It's the height of hypocrisy for Arroyo to declare in her SONA that she 'cares for OFWs' while Baikan struggles to live 'unwanted and alone', while thousands of OFWs languish in jail or on death row or while countless others toil as modern-day slaves apart from their loved ones," said Bragas-Regalado.
Migrante International estimates there are about 5,000 OFWs in prisons overseas, including more than 30 on death row. Migrante's Rights and Welfare Assistance Program also documents approximately 30-50 cases monthly of OFWs who are victims of various human rights violations and criminal neglect by the Arroyo administration.
"We commit to raising these cases to the international community when we hold our International Assembly of Migrants and Refugees this October to coincide with RP's hosting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development. The inhuman treatment of migrants as commodities by governments and international institutions like the World Bank must be unmasked and opposed," she said. - GMANews.TV
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