Dubai: Dubai Taxi Corporation has promptly come to the aid of an ailing Pink Taxi driver after her plight was brought to its attention by XPRESS.
As Sharjah-based Filipina Leslie Tugade Cabanban, 44, goes about her daily rounds ferrying passengers to and from Dubai Airport, few know that a little tube sits on her chest, her life literally depending on it.
“It’s a dialysis catheter that filters my blood. I cannot do without it – the functioning of both my kidneys is severely reduced,” Leslie told XPRESS, adding that she was visiting a Sharjah hospital for dialysis, following a week’s stint at Dubai Hospital.
A copy of Dubai Hospital’s discharge summary confirmed she was suffering from Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease. But when Leslie was due for her last session of dialysis in Sharjah on August 2, she had no money to pay. “I didn’t want to go to the hospital because of this. But they called me and told me I could not miss the session. I still owe them the money.”
She said: “I begged and borrowed from family and friends to pay for my earlier sessions but they can only do so much. I even sold my camera to get some money. I am running out of options. It makes me want to cry.”
An XPRESS query to RTA on Leslie’s condition elicited a prompt and heartening response.
Marwan Othman Abdul Qader, Director of the Drivers’ Fleet Affairs Department, DTC, said as per DTC’s insurance policy for drivers regarding chronic renal failure and normocytic anemia, it was explained to the patient that her hospitalisation and medical expenses are covered, with the exception of dialysis. “The insurance company reimbursed all costs paid by her husband to the hospital except dialysis and we were in continuous contact with them during her hospitalisation.”
Abdul Qader said: “After this was brought to our attention by XPRESS and not the driver, DTC’s Drivers’ Fleet Affairs Department Management met with Leslie and informed her that she can apply for financial assistance to various programmes available to her such as Drivers’ Takaful Fund which is a financial support programme for drivers with life-threatening issues such as disability, death and emergency crisis. As well, she can apply to the Drivers Service Centre for financial assistance to non-covered medical bills, and finally, she can attend the Drivers’ Council meetings in which she can present her case in front of the committee and they can assist her with support from various charitable organisations.”
DTC will continue to monitor Leslie’s condition as we are in direct contact with her and will provide her full support and assistance as we would like to see her recover quickly,” he added.
Why dialysis?
When chronic kidney disease or loss of kidney function reaches an advanced stage, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes build up in the body. It becomes apparent only when the kidney function is significantly impaired. It can progress to end-stage kidney failure, which is fatal without artificial filtering (dialysis) or kidney transplant. Dialysis removes wastes and fluids accumulated when kidneys stop working. It also helps normalise chemical imbalances.
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