Health official: Gang-raped nurse now in stable condition

Nearly two weeks after she was found unconscious and naked, a volunteer nurse gang-raped in Maguindanao province is now in stable condition and showing signs of improvement, a health official said Thursday. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) health secretary Dr. Kadil Sinolinding said that while the nurse’s consciousness had been “fleeting," she can respond briefly to commands. “In terms of physical recovery, we have been assured she is far from death. But as for her total recovery and progress into a normal person, it may take time because of her neurological deficit caused by the trauma and ischemia [inadequate supply of blood] due to strangulation while she was being assaulted," Sinolinding said in Filipino in an interview on dzRH radio. Citing updates given by the nurse’s attending physician, he said, “Her vital signs are stable but she has right-sided half-body paralysis." He added health attendants continue praying for the nurse’s full recovery so she can regain full consciousness and identify her attackers. “Ang malaking pag-asa, ang biktima mismo maka-identify at makabigay sa atin ng totoong ulat. We always pray na full at mabilis ang recovery ng pasyente para mabigyan ng kalutasan ang pangyayaring ito," he said. After she was gang-raped, beaten and left for dead last September 26, she was taken to the Cotabato Regional & Medical Center and subsequently transferred to Davao City where her treatment is continuing. Sinolinding said doctors gave the nurse a score of 10 in the Glasgow Coma scale, and observed her level of consciousness is “fleeting." He also said the nurse so far responds only to her parents. “Nakasusunod siya ng little orders pero di matagalan maka-respond sa command lalo sa kanyang tatay at nanay na siya lang ang pinaniniwalaan niya (She can follow simple orders but her consciousness is fleeting. She responds only to her parents because she trusts only them for now)," he said. Muscle twitches Sinolinding said the victim had twitches in the left foot, with the attending physician saying it can be “due to ischemia while the patient was strangulated" when she was being gang-raped. “There were indications she was hit hard with a solid object in the left side of the her head. The left-side paralysis and twitching of the foot may have stemmed from ischemia," he said. Sinolinding said that while there are conflicting reports on the number of assailants, he said what they are sure of at this time is that it is impossible for a single assailant to have caused the injuries to the victim. “It is not possible isa lang gumawa noon. Ayon sa alagad ng batas they are trying their best makuha ang real situation," he said. — LBG, GMANews.TV