MANILA, Philippines—Two overseas Filipino groups in the Middle East are seeking the family of a Filipino woman who has been confined in a hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for almost a year now.Migrante-UAE and Migrante-Qatar have informed the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration office in Dubai about the case of the woman, identified only as Baikan Musa, who remains confined at Rashid Hospital in the UAE capital. Musa is sick and unable to talk, believed due to paralysis. A concerned overseas Filipino worker from Qatar informed the Migrante chapter there about Musa. Migrante-Qatar then relayed the information to Migrante-UAE. Morona, in an email sent to the Philippine Daily Inquirer along with Musa’s pictures, said that the woman, who was rushed to the hospital semi-conscious and in pain sometime in the middle of 2007, was not carrying any identifying documents with her. Someone came to the hospital later and identified the patient as Baikan Musa, although her identity has not been verified. “Sad to say, we have been informed that until now Ms Musa could not talk thus limiting us in getting relevant information about her and what happened to her. She is in a state of paralysis and unable to talk,” Morona said. The Migrante leader said OWWA told the group the agency has been dealing with a “few technicalities” before repatriating her to Manila. The agency also said it was still fixing “arrangements” for Musa’s confinement to the Philippine General Hospital upon her repatriation. The group is also spreading pictures of Musa on the Internet, hoping she will be recognized by her relatives back home. Morona criticized the Department of Foreign Affairs for not tending to Musa’s needs, even if she has been undocumented, adding that the Philippine Embassy would have surely known about the OFW’s case. Migrante-UAE said it wanted OWWA to give full assistance to Musa and shoulder all her expenses, hospitalization and medicines. “The President, if she really cares for OFWs, should instruct all diplomatic posts abroad to work for bilateral agreement with the host government on OFWs’ protection and welfare and thus making host governments accountable to their foreign workers and expatriates,” Morona said. | 
