Manila
Philippines government officials are working with medical experts to keep out deadly Ebola-virus as Filipinos return from Ebola-hit countries.
Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr of the presidential communications office said on Wednesday they are establishing a protocol to be followed when some 1,755 Filipino workers return from Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia.
“The government is undertaking all necessary measures to protect the health and well-being of our nationals or citizens in keeping with the established protocols on managing the Ebola virus disease. This includes preparations for raising to level “3” the crisis alert level for Ebola-affected countries in West Africa, effective mid-November 2014,” he sad.
Citing figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Labour and Employment, Coloma estimated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Sierra Leone at 1,044; 511 in Guinea and 200 in Liberia.
Aside from Filipino migrant workers in the three West African nations, the protocol would also be followed when 145 Filipino peacekeepers attached with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNIMIL) return to their home country.
Most Filipinos working in the three African countries are in the construction, mining and technical industries.
Coloma also said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is also considering voluntary repatriation of Filipinos in the three countries in view of the situation there.
Medical clearance
Earlier, health secretary Dr Enrique Ona said the government is mulling over a proposal for returning Filipinos from the three countries requiring medical clearance.
“We are making arrangements for Filipino workers’ return, but before they can get back to the country, we will require them to have a so-called medical clearance,” he said on the sidelines of the 65th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific.
