PHILIPPINE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SET UP PROGRAM FOR MIGRANTS



April 12, 2013
The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) is heeding the call of the World Health Organization to address the issue of Migrant Health.

“As part of our vision of achieving universal health care (or Kalusugan Pangkalahatan), we will now focus on the health of our modern day heroes, our Overseas Filipino Workers” Health Secretary Enrique Ona declared.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), an intergovernmental organization working on migration management-related areas such as health, there are about 215 million international migrants today. This figure could reach 405 million by 2050, they added.

Based on the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan 2011-2016, ten percent of the total 2010 population or 1.079 million people were living or working abroad. Using the 2011 Stock Estimate of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, 47%   of these migrants are permanent, 43% are temporary and 10% are irregular migrants.

"We have to develop a package of services for them. We can no longer accept news and sad stories about our fellowmen suffering from mental disorders or contracting HIV-AIDS when they go abroad. I know that government can do so much for them while they are still here and even when they are already in another country," said the Health Secretary.

The DOH, in partnership with the IOM, will be working hand in hand in understanding and addressing the issue of our migrants and providing programs and necessary assistance to ensure their well-being. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed today between the two organizations.

The health program to be developed will include capacity-building, policy development and technical cooperation on migration issues, services, humanitarian responses, migration of nationals and aliens, assistance to internally or externally displaced persons and other persons in need.

“Recognizing that migration now is a social determinant for health, we have to further strengthen cooperation between national and local government agencies to advance good migrant health,” Ona concluded.

The WHO call for Member States to adopt the Migrant Health Resolution was issued during the 61st World Health Assembly in 2008.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

POPCOM, gagamit ng ‘digital platforms’ para pagtibayin ang mga ugnayang pampamilya

Mas pinalalawig ng Komisyon sa Populasyon at Pagpapaunlad (POPCOM) ang adhikain nitong pagpapalaganap at pagpapabuti ng pakikipag-ugnayan ng mga nakakatandang Pilipino sa kanilang mga anak na nagdadalaga at nagbibinata. Nitong Setyembre 21, ang POPCOM ay nagsagawa ng isang “parent-teen talk webinar” gamit ang Zoom, kung saan ang isang “interactive program” ang nagbigay ng naaayon na kaalaman at kasanayan sa mga magulang, habang tumulong ito sa mga anak na teenager na maabot ang kanilang buong potensyal. Hinikayat din nito ang mga nanay at tatay na sumali sa malayang usapan, lalo na sa mga usapin ukol sa sex at sekswalidad, na nakikitang makakatulong upang bumaba ang mga bilang ng mga pagbubuntis sa hanay ng mga kabataan. Maaaring mapanood ang webinar sa https://youtu.be/lZ9jrJCjYas. Ayon kay Ikalawang Kalihim (Undersecretary) Juan Antonio A. Perez III, MD, MPH, “ang webinar ay naging isang tagapag-simula at ‘padaluyan’ ng pag-uu
Read more

In Cairo, senior Hamas officials discuss hostage deal with Egyptian intelligence chief ---By TOI STAFF, AGENCIES and LAZAR BERMAN

Delegation said led by terror group’s Qatar-based political leader Ismail Haniyeh; Wall Street Journal reports Hamas demanding 150 security prisoners for each female soldier A delegation of senior Hamas officials arrived in Cairo on Thursday for talks with Egyptian officials on a possible deal that would see the release of hostages held by terrorists in Gaza. The delegation was led by Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who lives in Qatar, and included senior members Mousa Abu Marzook and Khalil al-Hayya, the Qatar-based Al-Araby news outlet reported, citing an unnamed Egyptian source. The Hamas officials met with the head of Egyptian intelligence, Major General Abbas Kamel, to discuss the details of a hostage deal proposal that was presented to the Gaza terror group earlier this week by Qatari and Egyptian mediators. The outline of the deal was drawn up during a meeting in Paris last week in the presence of Israeli and US officials, as well as Qatari and Egyptian negotiators, a
Read more

LIST: 21 medicines added to VAT-exempt list Ian Laqui - Philstar.com

Pixabay MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has expanded its list of medicines which are exempt from the value added tax (VAT). Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 17-2024 released by the tax bureau exempted 21 medications following the endorsement of the Food and Drug Administration. The VAT-exempted medications on the list are for conditions such as cancer, diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, kidney disease, mental illness and tuberculosis. Below is the full list of additional VAT-exempted medications: For cancer Panitumumab (100mg/5ml) (concentrate solution for infusion) Fulvestrant (50mg/ml) (concentrate solution for infusion) For diabetes Teneligliptin (as hydrobromide hydrate) (20 mg) Sitagliptin (as phospate monohydrate) + Metformin HCI (50mg/500mg) Sitagliptin (50 mg) Sitagliptin (10 mg) Metformin Hydrochloride (500 mg) For high cholesterol Atorvastatin Calcium (20 mg) Atorvastatin + Fenofibrate (40 mg/160 mg) For mental illness Desvenlafaxine
Read more