Maids, farmers abroad may not hear about 'swine flu'

MANILA, Philippines - While the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has already issued health alerts to Filipinos in countries with confirmed swine flu cases, a former labor official urged the government to intensify the information drive to those who are at most risk but are least likely to hear the news about the disease.

Susan Ople of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center was concerned that the health advisories might not reach domestic helpers, agricultural and factory workers employed in swine flu-affected countries since they don’t have ready access to the Internet or television.

There are 309 Filipino workers and 21 permanent residents in Mexico, the DFA said. It is unclear if there are any Filipinos there employed in domestic work or in the agricultural sector.

The Ople Center had earlier expressed fears that the disease might be closing in as South Korea has suspected swine-flu cases. Korea employs thousands of Filipino factory workers, many of them in meat processing factories and small-scale agri-business establishments. [See: 5 more SKoreans being tested for swine flu]

Ople asked the DFA to map out contingency plans for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and explain the disease to community leaders, who would then relay the information to the rest of the Filipino migrants.

“We are not causing any undue alarm," Ople said, “But it’s always prudent to have these safety precautions."

The advocacy leader suggested that future job contracts should now include a health clause to ensure that foreign employers will shoulder the medical needs of OFWs should they be affected by the disease.

Meanwhile, the DFA said the Philippine Embassy in Mexico has started a telephone brigade to advise Filipinos there on precautionary measures that they could take.

The DFA also reiterated its advisory against making unnecessary travel to Mexico and other countries affected by the swine influenza.

The Philippine government had earlier warned Filipinos in Mexico against shaking hands, kissing (beso-beso), and traveling using the subway as the deadly swine flu continues to spread there. [See: Avoid beso-beso, crowds in Mexico, Pinoys told]

The Department of Health is also set to distribute a Health Alert Notice (HAN) to all arriving travelers from the US and Mexico.

Travelers will also be required to fill out a health declaration at all ports of entry in the Philippines to screen from potential exposure from the virus. - GMANews.TV

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