OFW dies after severe asthma attack in HK

Kwong Wah Hospital in Yau Ma Tei

A 37-year-old overseas Filipino worker died in Kowloon after she had a severe asthma attack while her employer was abroad.

Welfare Attache Marivic Clarin said domestic worker Ivy B., who is from Bontoc, Mountain Province, was comatose from September 20 to 25 before she finally passed away.

“Nakamamatay pala ang severe asthma. Nawawalan ng oxygen supply ang brain ng matagal. Dinala siya sa opsital pero comatose. After a few days, pumanaw na siya,” Clarin said in an interview.

Ivy was alone in the flat because her employer was on a foreign trip when she had a severe asthma attack on September 20.

“Nakalabas pa siya ng bahay at nakakatok sa kapitbahay para humingi ng tulong,” Clarin said.

She said another Filipino domestic worker helped Ivy and she was brought to the Kwong Wah hospital in Yau Ma Tei.

“Namatay siya noong tanghali ng Sept. 25. Dapat pa naman bibisitahin namin siya sa hospital,” Clarin said.

She said Ivy has several relatives working here in Hong Kong, including her mother who also works as a domestic worker. Ivy was repatriated back to the Philippines on Oct. 5.

“She was repatriated quickly because there was nothing suspicious about what happened. Her relatives knew she had asthma,” Clarin said.

“Her employer paid for the cost of repatriation. Ivy had worked here in HK for nine years and was on her fifth contract,” she added.

She said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) would provide Ivy’s family with a P100,000 death benefit and P20,000 for burial assistance. One of her three children would also get an annual educational assistance of P8,000 during high school and P10,000 in college. They will also get P15,000 in livelihood assistance.

The HK Environmental Protection Department (EPD) had issued advisories on September 19, 25, 27, and 30 because of the higher than normal air pollution level in HK at that time.

“It is expected that pollution levels will remain higher than normal until the advent of stronger wind next week,” the EPD said on Sept. 19.

“With a health risk category in the ‘Very High’ range or above, children, the elderly and persons with existing heart or respiratory illnesses are advised to reduce physical exertion and outdoor activities to a minimum or avoid such activities,” it added.