GMA NEWS: FEB. 21, 2014 Cardiac arrest number one killer of Pinoys in Saudi Arabias western region By RONALDO CONCHA JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – Over 200 Filipinos died in the western region of Saudi Arabia last year, most of them due to cardiac arrest and road accidents, according to figures from the Philippine Consulate. Of the 241 total number of deaths recorded by the consulate, 121 were due to cardiac arrest while 36 were due to road accidents. Other causes of deaths among Filipinos in the western region were diseases (31), work-related incidents (7), suicide (6) and drowning (4). Twenty-two stillborn babies were also reported, while 14 deaths were listed under “unknown” reasons. Of the total number, 184 were male while 57 were female. Consul General Uriel Norman Garibay said the figure could be more than double if other parts of Saudi Arabia were included. The consulate covers the western region while the embassy covers the capital city as well as the central and the eastern regions, including the key cities of Dammam and Al Khobar. With cardiac arrest being the number one killer of Filipinos under his watch, Garibay called on all Filipinos to maintain a healthy lifestyle. “Exercise regularly, control your diet, monitor your health and see the doctors regularly,” he said. “We must not forget that we are not getting younger anymore so we have to take care of ourselves.” Vice Consul RJ Sumague, the consulates administrative officer, said the highest number of deaths reported was in October with 29, followed by April with 26, and August and November with 23 each. Twenty-one deaths were reported each in September and December, 20 in March, 18 in February, and 17 each in January, June and July. May had the lowest number of reported death cases with nine. “It is really sad on our part to see our countrymen returning home in coffins. Everyone must really take good care of themselves,” said Sumague. Jeddah was on the top list with 165 death cases, followed by Yanbu with 14, Tabuk with 13, Khamis with 10, Abha with 7, Madinah with 6, Gizan with 6, Najran with 5, Taif with 5, Makkah with 4, Albaha with 3, Rabigh with 3, Bisha with 2 and Qonfuda with 1. Sumague said 149 remains had been repatriated to the Philippines, while 30 are still awaiting for repatriation while 62 were buried in Jeddah. — KBK, GMA News
Posted on: Fri, 21 Feb 2014 04:16:22 +0000
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