A Filipino nurse who was injured in a vehicular accident in Assir Region, Saudi Arabia wants to return to the Philippines.

Staff nurse Tedja Malia Pangcoba Minanga was on board an ambulance when another vehicle allegedly driven by a Saudi national hit them.

“We were going to Saudi-German (hospital group) at bigla kaming hinarangan ng kotse at nabangga kami doon. Matarik yung daan biglang malakas yung salpak,” said Minanga.

Minanga was taken to a hospital after sustaining injuries to the body. Her right eye was also badly swollen because of the mishap.

The Filipina nurse had been assigned in a hospital in the City of Abha for just 10 days when the accident occurred.

She now wants to return to the Philippines for fear that her employer would abandon her and she may be forced to pay her hospital bills.

“Pabalikin na lang ako ng Pilinas. Saan po ako kukuha ng pambayad ko dito,” she said.
 
Her employer, she said, did not treat them well and also failed to follow what was written on their contract.
 
“Nawawalan kami ng tubig. Wala kaming uniform, kahit wala kaming pagkain hindi kami pinapalabas para mamili ng pagkain...wala,” she said.

She added that they were made to work for long hours despite the 10 hours of work stipulated in their contract.

“Fourteen hours ang duty sometimes po. Sa kontrata naman is 10 hours. Ok lang po sana yun pero yung mga kasamahan naming iba, ginawang 14, wala po kaming [day] off,” she said.

The OFW further alleged the miserable conditions prompted some Filipino nurses to escape and seek help from the consulate in Jeddah. Report from Andy Relox, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau