Pregnant ob-gyne, unborn baby succumb to COVID-19

While taking care of patients amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, healthcare workers are also left vulnerable to the illness.

According to Mav Gonzales’ report on “24 Oras,” this was the case of a 31-week pregnant doctor who, along with her child, succumbed to COVID-19 days after she tested positive.

Dr. Anne Mimay-Magkasi tested positive on July 28, confined in a hospital in Pampanga and passed on August 1 along with her unborn child.

Her colleague, Dr. Donald Reluya, said Magkasi was unable to get vaccinated against the virus due to her pregnancy. 

“Ganoon talaga kasi siya sakripisyo sa pagtatrabaho niya. Masakit bilang kaibigan kasi hindi mo ine-expect. Mas bata pa siya sa akin tapos mas bata siya sa aming mga kasamahan,” Reluya said.

“Ang lakas-lakas niya tapos bigla na lang pupunta sa ospital tapos ganon kalala ‘yung nararamdaman niya,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dr. Christine Macaraeg was confined for a month, where she fought for her life.

“Grabe, ang bilis talaga ng pangyayari. Sobra kasing ano, torture, torture ang nangyari sa akin. Ang dami kasing nagdadasal kaya siguro naka-survive ako,” she said.

Macaraeg has not yet been inoculated against the illness. She said she was about to get vaccinated but it was postponed due to her high blood pressure.

As of August 9, data from the Department of Health showed that 1.4 million healthcare workers have been vaccinated against the illness.

A total of 22,032 have tested positive for COVID-19, of which 21,730 have recovered and 102 have died.

Healthcare workers also wished to receive benefits that were promised to them, such as the special risk allowance.

“Ito po ‘yung nakakalungkot dahil sa gitna ng panganib ng pandemya ay walang maramdamang suporta ang mga nurses at iba pang healthcare workers,” Jocelyn Andamo of the Filipino Nurses United said.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News