Labor Attache Dela Torre watches as his staff and volunteers administer the free health checks |
By Vir B. Lumicao
Close to 200 overseas Filipino workers availed of free
health checks at the launch of Project Health Wise on Sunday, Nov. 4 at the Philippine
Overseas Labor Office in Wanchai.
The warm response prompted Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre
to open a Saturday edition of his brainchild project to cater for workers who
take their holiday on that day.
Project Health Wise is conducted by POLO-Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration Hong Kong in collaboration with Filipino Nurses
Association, BSK and Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines .
It is held at the community hall of POLO’s 18th
floor offices and is open to all OFWs.
Labatt Dela Torre told The SUN that POLO staff will work
overtime on Saturdays to provide the health check. The official said he is
looking for about five volunteers who can help staff attend to workers who want
to avail of the health check on this day.
Those who want a check-up on a weekday may see either Assistant
Labor Attaché Angelica Suñga or OWWA staff Joszoa Villa, both registered
nurses, Dela Torre said.
The check-ups offered consist of vital signs, blood glucose,
urine, uric acid, HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis checks. Volunteer nurses also
provide breast self-examination tips.
As of 4pm, Suñga and her team had reportedly administered blood
glucose checks to 155 workers. There were others who skipped this test and went
for just the free blood pressure check-up.
A group of physical therapists led by Bona Cresencia
provided free massage service.
The health service started at 8:30am and closed at 5pm.
“The aim is to enable our OFWs to recognize vital signs that
could potentially lead to serious health issues in the future,” he said in a
post on Facebook.