Eleazar assures support for newborn of COVID fatality
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Thursday assured full assistance to the newborn of a 31-year old policewoman from Banga, South Cotabato who died of COVID-19 three days after safely delivering her child last August 10.
“Sinisiguro ko na maghahatid tayo ng tulong sa kanyang mga naulila. Higit sa lahat, hindi natin pababayaan ang bagong silang na sanggol ng ating policewoman na nagbigay ng tapat na serbisyo sa bayan,” the top cop said.
The policewoman was found positive for the virus last August 5. However, while still waiting for the result of her RT-PCR test, doctors decided to perform a delicate caesarian section on her to save her baby.
After safely delivering her baby, the policewoman was transferred to another hospital after she exhibited COVID-19 symptoms. She died before the result of her test which yielded a positive result came out.
Gen. Eleazar expressed sympathy to the bereaved family of the police officer.
“Nakikiramay ang buong organisasyon sa pagkamatay ng aming kasamahan. Bilang ama ng PNP, masakit para sa akin na isa na namang pulis ang pumanaw dahil sa COVID-19,” he said.
The PNP chief also ordered all his field commanders to make arrangements so that pregnant personnel are able to work from home and are not exposed to possible COVID-19 infection.
“Lubhang delikado para sa kanila ang ma-deploy at ma-expose sa COVID-19. Dapat unahin natin ang kanilang kaligtasan at kalusugan pati ng batang kanilang dinadala,” he pointed out.
Pregnancy is among COVID-19 risk factors, along with age, underlying medical conditions, and a compromised immune system. Pregnancy makes women more susceptible to coronavirus infection and other viral respiratory illnesses.
On Wednesday, the PNP Health Service reported that two more police personnel died of COVID-19, one of them the policewoman from Central Mindanao.
