95 ‘runaway’ OFWs in Lebanon take first aid course

Before returning to the country last Sunday, 95 “runaway" overseas Filipino workers (OFW) completed a first aid training course, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Gilberto Asuque presented the certificates of completion to the 95 OFWs sheltered at the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC).

Assistant Labor Attaché Salome Mendoza, Caritas Senior Social Worker Dima Haddad, and First Aid Trainer Lina Raoub assisted Asuque in handing out the certificates.

The training course was conducted by Caritas Lebanon Migrants Center (CLMC).

“The First Aid Training Course was conducted pursuant to the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Embassy and the CLMC to provide human resource training to Filipinos sheltered in the FWRC while waiting for the completion of their exit papers," the DFA said.

Signing the certificates were Asuque, Caritas Board Committee President Kamal Sioufi, and Caritas Director Najla Tabet Chadda, as an indication of the quality of first aid training and their support for the project.

During the awarding, Asuque stressed the training conducted by the Embassy, Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and Caritas aims to increase their manual skills and knowledge and enhance their employment opportunities.

The 95 Filipinos were grouped into six batches to facilitate the first aid lectures and demonstrations. They took a pre-test examination prior to the start of the course and a final examination, which they all passed.

“The training course covered emergency medical guidelines, recognition of emergency situations, emergency assistance for victims of choking and electric shocks, taking of pulse and blood pressure, treatment of burns, bone fractures, sprains, wounds, minor and serious injuries, and first aid for chronic conditions such as asthma, chest pains, convulsions, seizures, hallucinations, vomiting, among others," the DFA said.

According to the DFA, the 95 OFWs ran away from their employers and were given shelter there while representations are being made by the Embassy, POLO and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) with the Lebanese immigration authorities for the issuance of their exit clearances.

Before returning to the Philippines, Asuque urged them to continue developing their skills.

Asuque also reminded them to follow the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) deployment process so as not to fall victims again to illegal recruiters.- VVP, GMA News

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