MERS-CoV victim “comes home”

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The remains of the 45-year-old Negrense nurse, who succumbed to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus in Saudi Arabia, was buried Thursday night at the Rolling Hills Memorial Park, this city.

"She's perfect," this was how Bonifacio Oplas described his late wife, Gemma, adding that he was very thankful despite of what had happened since "she was able to come home."

Bonifacio said the remains of his wife, who died on May 6 while her body remained frozen for almost four months, left Riyadh Wednesday night then arrived in Bacolod past 5 p.m., Thursday.

The family then proceeded to the memorial park to lay for the interment, "I was advised by the Department of Health to bury her within 24 hours and that we can't open the casket because she died of a communicable disease."

Bonifacio recalled that his wife contacted the disease from a fellow Filipina nurse she had taken care of in the hospital, adding that his wife was supposed to come home last March of this year to attend the graduation of their 13-year-old daughter, but her leave was rescheduled to June.

Gemma was excited to come home and attend the graduation of their daughter, who got an honor award in their class, said Bonifacio, adding that her personal belongings were already sent to the province through a package.

He said Gemma worked in different hospitals in Saudi Arabia since 2001 and then as an emergency nurse at King Fahd Medical City in 2005. The last time she went home was in February last year when she spent vacation with her family for more than a month.

Bonifacio said the family has yet to receive assistance from the national government, as he revealed that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration assured them of P200,000 financial help, in addition to the P20,000 burial assistance and P15,000 for livelihood. Their daughter was also set to receive a scholarship of P8,000 a year.

He also said that the Philippine Embassy will coordinate with the Embassy in Saudi Arabia regarding the benefits the family will receive from the hospital.

The husband however said he was dismayed after a memorial park in Cadiz City in Negros Occidental refused to bury her remains there. The management had told him, "it was for the safety of the Cadiznons," citing that his wife succumbed to a fatal infection. He was thankful though that Rolling Hills "accepted her."