Fe del Mundo, dame of PHL pediatrics, dies at 99

Dr. Fe del Mundo, the Grand Dame of Philippine Pediatrics, passed away after suffering a heart attack at 5 a.m. Saturday. A report on “24 Oras" said the remains of Del Mundo, who died at 99, lie in state at the Dr. Fe del Mundo Medical Center on Banaue Avenue in Quezon City. The report said her remains will be brought to Sto. Domingo Church on Wednesday and will be buried at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani on Thursday.
Del Mundo is referred to as the first woman admitted as a student of the Harvard Medical School and the country’s first female national scientist. In 1977, she was conferred the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service. She was awarded the rank and title of National Scientist of the Philippines in 1980. In 2010, she was conferred the Order of Lakandula. Also, Del Mundo was noted for her pioneering work on infectious diseases in Philippine communities. She was credited for authoring the “Textbook of Pediatrics," a fundamental medical text used in Philippine medical schools. — JE, GMA News