Political detainee pleads to take care of baby with COVID-19 symptoms

Relatives and friends of political prisoner Reina Mae Nasino have aired her appeal to be allowed to take care of her three-month old baby girl, River, who has exhibited symptoms of COVID-19.

River was rushed to the Manila Medical Center early Thursday because of fever and diarrhea, according to Kapatid, a group composed of relatives and friends of political detainees.

“We call on the government to extend compassion for Reina Mae and her baby girl, River. Let her take care of her sick child,” Fides Lim, Kapatid spokesperson, said in a statement.

“The lethal COVID-19 poses serious threats, especially for a nearly 3-month-old baby who wasn’t able to be breastfed enough after being separated from her mother less than two months ago,” she added.

Nasino, an activist who was arrested in November 2019 and is facing charges for illegal possession of firearms, gave birth to her child at Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital on July 1.

She and her daughter were transferred back to Manila City Jail the following day. A court later ordered that she be separated from her child in August.

“We’ve repeatedly warned of the consequences of separating mother and baby, but both the Regional Trial Court and the Supreme Court did not heed our call to release Reina Mae from prison to allow her to take care of her child even for at least a year,” Lim said.

Nasino previously filed a motion for reconsideration on the separation, insisting that the child is best left with her for breastfeeding.

However, prosecutors countered that Nasino has been feeding the child baby milk formula since July. They added that a child born to a detainee may not stay with the mother for over a month.

Meanwhile, the officer-in-charge of the city jail's female dormitory previously said they had no facility for newborns.

“The court’s decisions robbed Reina Mae of the chance to properly breastfeed her child. We’ve said several times that breastfeeding is essential to sustain the health of both of them, especially at this time of the pandemic. Since their separation, the kin of Reina Mae had no choice but to shift to formula milk,” Lim said.

“Now, we reiterate that this is one of the primary reasons why we are pressing for the release of Reina Mae. It is most cruel to separate a baby from her mother… We earnestly appeal that Reina Mae be allowed to walk free from prison to ensure proper care and the survival of her infant daughter,” she added. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News