Zambales doctor Jean Rebultan succumbed to COVID-19 while in active duty. Image from Dr. Eileen Rose Garrido
SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES — A government doctor in the frontline of the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the province died on Saturday, authorities said.
Dr. Jean Rebultan, 52, an emergency health physician at the President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital (PRMMH) in the capital town of Iba, had tested positive for COVID-19 on March 25.
PRMMH is the designated COVID referral facility of the province of Zambales.
According to the PRMMH, Rebultan was the first medical frontliner in the province to succumb to the disease. She was also considered as one of the institutions of PRMMH, having worked there for more than 20 years, not only as an emergency room physician, but also as a former surgery resident.
She was also the coordinator of the hospital’s Animal Bite Center & the HEMS (Health Emergency Management Staff).
‘Very dedicated doctor’
Dra Rebultan was described by her colleague and friend, Dr. Ellen Rose Garrido as “a very dedicated doctor.”
“She was a well-rounded doctor who can tackle any case with bravery. Despite the presence of comorbidities, she refused to go on leave, even if the management has advised her to do so. She still wanted to serve the Zambaleños. She still went on duty with passion & dedication,” Garrido said in an online interview with INQUIRER.net.
“Up to now, it is difficult to accept that she has succumbed to the virus that we have been battling since Feb 2020… She left a vast void in our hearts. Her presence was perrenial at the ER. It will take a long time to get used to the fact that we won’t be able to see her smiling face & warm greeting whenever we enter the emergency room. Our hearts are so broken & filled with deep sadness,” Garrido further said.
On critical status
Meanwhile, two employees in the out-patient department of the hospital also tested positive for COVID-19.
On Monday, the hospital was placed on a “critical status” in terms of bed capacity due to surging cases of COVID-19 in the province.
Zambales currently has 1,160 COVID-19 cases, 126 of these are active.