PH won’t send health workers to Ebola-hit countries…for now
In this photo taken on Monday, Aug. 4, 2014, a public information board explains the symptoms of the deadly Ebola virus in the city of Freetown, Sierra Leone. AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Malacanang on Tuesday said it was unlikely that the government would send volunteer health workers to West Africa to aid in the campaign against Ebola virus.
“Bilang bahagi ng United Nations ay handa naman ang ating bansa na gumawa ng mga hakbang na makakatulong sa pandaigdigang pagkilos laban sa pagkalat ng Ebola virus. Pero ‘yung partikular na aspeto na tayo ay magpapadala ng mga health workers doon ay ibang usapin ‘yon dahil nga maraming dapat na konsiderasyon hinggil doon,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a briefing.
(As a member of the United Nations we are ready to help in the international campaign against the spread of Ebola virus. But that particular aspect, the sending of health workers, is another issue because we have a lot of things to consider.)
He said they have to take into consideration the situation of the nurses and doctors that would be sent.
At the moment, there are still Filipino peacekeepers in the area and that issue has not been resolved, Coloma said.
“So siguro ‘yon muna ang ia-address natin bago tayo lumingon pa sa iba pang posibilidad katulad ng iyong nabanggit,” he explained.
(So perhaps we should address that first before looking at such possibilities.)
Media reports said the World Health Organization (WHO) was calling for a large number of health workers to help address the Ebola outbreak.
During a forum organized by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) and Philippine Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), WHO Country Representative Dr. Julie Hall reportedly said the organization would welcome volunteers from the Philippines.
The Philippine government announced the recall of Filipino peacekeepers from Liberia, one of the countries affected by the outbreak.
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