Lesson for migrants in caregiver's death

In memory: Evey McAuliffe places a flower next to a photo of Lennie Leoncito during a tribute service to the former Green Gables caregiver who died last month. Photo: COLIN SMITH

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Migrants are being urged to get health insurance after a young Filipino woman was farewelled in Nelson recently.

About 25 residents, staff and friends attended a tribute at Green Gables rest home for Lennie Leoncito, a 28-year-old Filipino caregiver who died late last month.

Father Raymond Soriano led the ceremony which was filmed to send back to Ms Leoncito's family in the Philippines.

Nelson Multi Ethnic Council field worker Cristi Aydoni is hoping other migrants will learn from Lennie's experience.

Ms Leoncito was diagnosed as having suspected gynaecological cancer in late July this year. She held a work permit, but did not qualify for state-funded healthcare, Ms Aydon said.

Her doctor encouraged Ms Leoncito to return to the Philippines for surgery. Ms Leoncito returned home on August 3 but died later that month as a result of her illness.

Ms Aydon said more migrants needed to be made aware of how important it was to have health insurance.

"Immigration should make a rule that any migrant coming out has to take health insurance. If Lennie had had health insurance she might have been able to be admitted [to hospital] sooner."

Ms Aydon said it was common in the Filipino culture to try to manage in difficulty, rather than ask for help. "Even though she was in agony, she was always smiling. What I am also trying to get out to other migrants is that it's OK to ask for help and that people here who offer help mean it – especially in Nelson."

Victory community health centre nurse Penny Molnar said clearer information about the healthcare available on different work permits needed to be made available to migrants. People coming into the country should be told to get health insurance before they entered the country, she said.

Ms Molnar said she had cared for another young couple from England whose health insurance had expired.

The couple were unable to extend their insurance from New Zealand, and could not buy New Zealand insurance because they were not New Zealand citizens.

"[People] on a working holiday need to make sure their insurance will cover them for two years."

Green Gables facility manager Susanne Harzer said Ms Leoncito was passionate about her job, and had a one-in-a-million smile.

"She rarely asked for help, but was always incredibly grateful for any little thing anyone did for her."

- © Fairfax NZ News