Villagers and family members putting the cross at Florancesia’s grave at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Kampung Ampungan. — Photo by Wilfred Pilo
SERIAN: Edward Bau, the father of the fourth rabies victim Florancesia Edward, five, who succumbed to the disease on Monday, could not hold back his tears during her funeral service yesterday.
Soon after the service, he said he just could not understand why his little girl had to die from rabies, even after she had been given medical treatment at Serian Hospital.
“I can’t tell you how distressed I am right now. I wish there is an answer to why she had to die without any cure at all,” Edward confided to The Borneo post after her funeral at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Kampung Ampungan, about 10 km from here yesterday.
His wife Elsie Kutek recalled that she had sent her daughter to Serian Hospital, where she was given a painkiller.
“After that we had thought that she was recovering as she was able to enjoy Gawai Dayak. She only got worse on July 2,” she said.
The late Florancesia’s grandfather Bau Penin, 69, said his granddaughter was the darling of the family.
“Out of my six grandchildren, Florancesia was the most active among them. Every time I came back from the farm she would come to me and asked what I had in my ‘tambok’ (woven basket). I will never forget her sweet nature and I believe that is what had made her the favourite in the family,” he said.
His wife Jimas Dubi, 62, concurred with her husband that Florancesia was outgoing, lively, lovable and a sweet little girl.
“She (Florancesia) was like an angel to us and she was always jovial. Florancesia made the household lively every day,” she said.
“With her lovely smiles and friendly nature, she will be dearly missed.”
Jimas disclosed that during the last Gawai Dayak celebration her late granddaughter had asked her why she did not join her family and the rest of the villagers at the village community hall.
“She told me how merry she and the rest of the villagers were. But I couldn’t go due to my skin problem as a result of kidney disease,” said Jimas.
Bau with his grandchildren Frender (left) and Flodia (second right) and his wife Jimas at his home at Kampung Ampungan. Jimas is holding the late Florancesia’s photograph.
Elsie (centre) being interviewed by a reporter at the paediatric ICU ward at SGH.
Flowers and wreaths at Florancesia’s grave as villagers and family members pay their last respects. — Photos by Wilfred Pilo
Edward Bau
The girl’s aunty, Siba Bau, who had been helping to take care of Florencesia while she was warded at the Sarawak General Hospital, said she was shocked at the tragic end of her niece’s life.
“The little girl was very sweet and even in death, when she was in her coffin, she looked like she was sleeping,” she said.
Siba said Florencesia’s passing had affected her family hard but they all accepted her tragic death as fate.
During the funeral service, the SDA graveyard was packed with Florencesia’s family members, relatives and the villagers, with one of the wreaths reading: ‘Rest in peace my little angel’.
Meanwhile, when contacted, the chairman of the State Disaster Management Committee, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, said prior to the rabies outbreak in Serian, Sarawak had been free from the dreaded virus.
“In terms of treatment for the rabies patients, we leave that to the Ministry of Health,” he said.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is the immediate treatment of a bite victim after rabies exposure. This prevents virus entry into the central nervous system, which results in imminent death.
PEP consists of extensive washing and local treatment of the wound as soon as possible after exposure; a course of potent and effective rabies vaccine that meets WHO standards; and the administration of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG), if indicated.
Effective treatment soon after exposure to rabies can prevent the onset of symptoms and death.