Another Ilongga medical frontliner abroad passed away due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), this time in United States of America.
A native of Alimodian, Iloilo, Divina Amo-Accad was a nurse at John D. Dingell Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan in the US. She was supposed to retire this year at the age of 72 but lost her battle against COVID-19 last March 30.
Her passing on is the first healthcare worker death in the state of Michigan due to the dreaded disease.
Accad finished her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at Central Philippine University (CPU) in 1969.
Her son, Mark Accad sent a message to RMN Iloilo USA correspondent Josie Moralidad Ziman:
“My mother was a passionate Veterans Nurse at the Detroit location who’s served our Vets for over 20yrs. She loved what she did. I remember as a child playing at the Allen Park location before they moved with vets who’s served in the WWs. She was infected by sick co-workers while she was on duty tending to our vets. She fought with everything she had for 11 days on a vent. But it was her passion that took her. She was supposed to retire this month. But didn’t get a chance. I’m so proud of you mom and I’m so proud to be your son. May you enjoy paradise. You are a hero mom.”
Recently, 50-year-old Amor Padilla Gatinao, another Ilongga nurse who graduated in CPU High School and finished nursing in West Visayas State University, died of COVID-19 after contracting the disease in a hospital in the United Kingdom.
In the latest report from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), there are already 660 Filipinos abroad infected with COVID-19. Of this number, 384 were still undergoing treatment while 192 have already recovered.
