Pinoy COVID-19 risk assessor in UAE catches virus – at home

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) tasked to inspect Abu Dhabi’s government-run COVID-19 screening and vaccination facilities, himself ended up infected with the virus that he contracted not at work, but of all places, in his home.

“Akala namin normal sakit lang yung nangyayari sa kanya,” said Dan Lester Dabon, referring to a family member whom he looked after for three days while in sickbed.

“I managed and provided care when he was so sick. We later learned that he was COVID-19 positive,” he added.

Dabon, who consequently spent three days of home isolation and another 15 in a quarantine facility where he stayed till Dec. 15 after getting two consecutive negative PCR results, said what happened should remind everyone not to let their guard down on the coronavirus.

“Importante ang discipline at ang pagiging proactive,” said Dabon, a quality, risk and patient safety professional. He started his home quarantine on Nov. 27 even before learning that his sick relative was COVID-positive, apparently acting on suspicion which comes with his job being a risk assessor. He was admitted to the quarantine facility on Dec. 1.

Dabon, who has also opened a healthcare consulting services agency that aims to help bring healthcare standards in the Philippines to international standards, said he felt scared when he started feeling strange and later on tested positive.

“But I was confident because I did not expose any person at home, workplace or in the community,” he said.

“When I knew that the person was COVID-19 positive, I immediately contacted my colleagues and informed them that I was exposed. On the same day, I went with our occupational health officer to visit the nearest healthcare facility,” he narrated.

From there, Dabon said he was swabbed and a “quarantine watch” connected to a GPS was strapped to his wrist before being advised for a home quarantine.

“The next day, I was called by a contact tracing officer from the Department of Health (contact tracing) to visit the COVID-19 Prime Assessment Center (PAC) at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC). I did another swab and on the next day, I tested positive.

“On that same day, I returned to ADNEC for proper medical screening such as physician consultation, Rapid PCR Test, blood tests, X-Ray and electrocardiogram (ECG). Even though the results were not available, I insisted to the physician that I  be admitted to a hotel quarantine facility because I was having the symptoms such as high grade fever, sore throat, body malaise as well as pain and severe headache,” Dabon further shared.

He said he was provided with supportive treatment at the quarantine facility. “Meaning, I was treated based on symptoms. Moreover, supplements were also given such as zinc, Vitamin C and other multi-vitamins,” he said.

Dabon said his sick relative has also finally tested negative for COVID-19. “Pero malala yun case nya, kasi nag anti-viral sya at ni-refer sa hospital,” he said.

Working at the largest ambulatory or primary healthcare setting in the Middle East under the government of Abu Dhabi as risk officer, Dabon routinely inspects up to 250 school health services across in public schools across Abu Dhabi and neighboring Al Ain, four mobile clinics, 17 drive-thru screening centers; two Covid-19 Prime Assessment Centers (PACs); 11 disease prevention and screening centers (DPSCs) and 31 multi-specialty healthcare centers, among others.

“Yan lahat iniikot ko,” said Dabon. “Nag-iinspect ako ng mga risk and safety issues sa mga drive-thru and national screening projects dito sa UAE. Nagko- conduct ako ng proactive risk assessment para ma-ensure na each process is safe for the patient, staff and the general community. In short, ina-anticipate ko ang mga bagay before mangyari ang isang incident,” he added.

The following day after being discharged from the ADNEC Covid facility on Dec. 15, Dabon went back to work where he could face another risk of coronavirus exposure. “Direcho duty mag-inspect sa Abu Dhabi vaccination facilities,” he said. —KBK, GMA News