Paralyzed Pinay unwanted and alone in UAE hospital

MANILA, Philippines — For more than seven months, a Filipino woman from the southern Philippines who was paralyzed after an accident remains stranded and neglected in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Online news site Gulf News reported Saturday no one in the Philippines has so far taken on the case of Baikan Mousa, who worked as a cleaner using a visit visa. "Her friends came and dropped off her family albums in January, and then no more. They left her," said Maria Felicia de la Cruz, one of the nurses at Rashid Hospital. "We're her friends now," added another. Mousa, 29, has been paralyzed since Dec. 31, 2007, after a car hit her while she was trying to cross the road near the Clock Tower in Deira with her friends. The driver sped off, and she was brought to Rashid Hospital where she has been staying ever since. She suffered injuries to the head, back and pelvis, while nurses said she has been alone for the past six months. Baikan, who hails from Maguindanao province, cannot breathe or eat on her own, and is dependent on tubes to do these basic functions. Despite her paralysis, she is conscious and aware of her surroundings. She communicates mainly by blinking her eyes. De la Cruz said it was unlikely Baikan would return home soon as her injuries were too extensive. A few people have tried to help her, including the Valley of Love and the Philippine Consulate, but their efforts have yielded few results so far. Philippine Consul General Benito Valeriano said repatriating Baikan was not a problem, but her medical care was. "Manila managed to contact her family but they are in dire straits and said they don't have the money to support her. They're very poor," he said. - GMANews.TV