MANILA, Philippines – A 37-year-old obstetrician-gynecologist (ob-gyn) serving during pandemic and her unborn child died of COVID-19.
Dr. Anne Mimay-Magkasi, who was 31 weeks pregnant, succumbed to COVID-19 on August 1 after testing positive on July 28. Magkasi was unable to get the vaccine against COVID-19 because of her pregnancy.
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| Photo from Facebook/Anne Mimay-Magkasi |
According to her colleague Dr. Donald Reluya, they were shocked that Magkasi would die of COVID-19 as she was relatively young and healthy.
“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 explained.
“Ang lakas-lakas niya tapos bigla na lang pupunta sa ospital tapos ganon kalala ‘yung nararamdaman niya,” he added.
Based on a post by a relative, Magkasi had only been married for 7 years and had two young kids.
“Sobrang mamimiss ka namin, Dra. Anne Mimay-Magkasi. Nakakabigla ang iyong pagkawala. At the age of 37, madami ka pang matutulungan at mapapagaling ng iyong medical expertise. Maliliit pa ang dalawa mong anak at 7 years pa Lang kayong kasal ni Lee. Nakakalungkot talaga na maaga kang binawi ni Lord kasama si Baby Anthony Miguel (7 months old),” Rose Marie Secerio Fortaleza wrote in her post.
Aside from Magkasi, another healthcare worker, who has not been inoculated against COVID-19 due to hypertension, was hospitalized for a month after being infected with the virus.
Fortunately, Dra. Christine Macaraeg recovered and was able to come out of the hospital alive.
Data from the Department of Health (DOH) indicated that 1.4 million healthcare workers have been vaccinated against the coronavirus diseases. While 21,730 healthcare workers have recovered from the illness, 102 have died.
— Mini, The Summit Express