Departing OFWs advised to get anti-polio vaccine | Global News

Departing OFWs advised to get anti-polio vaccine

By: - Reporter / @santostinaINQ
/ 08:21 PM May 15, 2014

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has issued a medical alert for overseas Filipino workers, urging them strongly to get anti-polio vaccines before leaving for their host countries.

The alert comes after the World Health Organization’s declaration of an international public health emergency related to polio.

“With the declaration of a polio outbreak in at least 10 countries, OFWs are strongly advised to get anti-polio vaccinations prior to their departure from the Philippines for their respective jobsites,” said POEA chief Hans Leo Cacdac.

Article continues after this advertisement

Last week, the WHO declared a “public health emergency of international concern on polio” after it noted a surge of polio cases in Afghanistan, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Israel, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Syria.

FEATURED STORIES

The Philippines has been declared polio-free since October 2000.

Cacdac said vaccinations against polio can be availed of at any hospital and clinic accredited by the Department of Health to administer medical examinations to OFWs.

Article continues after this advertisement

Meanwhile, the POEA also urged OFWs returning from the Middle East to undergo testing for Middle East respiratory syndrome or MERS prior to their departure for the Philippines.

Article continues after this advertisement

Cacdac said licensed recruitment agencies must coordinate with the foreign employers so that the testing would be at no cost to the workers.

Article continues after this advertisement

Last month, an OFW from Abu Dhabi who initially tested positive for the Corona virus that causes MERS returned to the Philippines. Further tests on him yielded negative results but his arrival triggered an extensive government effort to contact his fellow passengers on the plane to ensure that none of them was a Corona virus carrier.

RELATED STORIES

Article continues after this advertisement

WHO declares polio ‘public health emergency’

OFWs in Middle East warned on spread of MERS 

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

6 OFWs free of MERS virus, are released from hospital

TAGS: Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Hans Leo Cacdac, Israel, Nigeria, ofws, Overseas Filipino workers, Pakistan, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Polio, Somalia, Syria, World Health Organization

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.