QRC doctors and nurses attending to dozens of Filipino expatriates at a medical mission yesterday at POLO-OWWA. PICTURES: Rannie Tanchico
By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter
Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) and a group of Filipinos organised a medical mission yesterday that benefited dozens of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and employees of the Philippine embassy and attached government agencies.
The Confederation of Ilocano Association known as Samahang Ilocano (CIASI 61892) partnered with QRC to provide free medical services mostly to distressed OFWs. They also distributed medicines for hypertension, cold, fever and allergies, among others.
Culture attaché Richard Billedo told Gulf Times that at least four doctors and 10 nurses from QRC served more than 70 people. The activity was held at the Philippine Overseas Labour Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA) in West Bay from 2pm to 5pm.
“This is just the start of a noble endeavour and I believe this will be a good example for many Filipino organisations who want to help our compatriots,” he said. “In this way, they will be able to reach more expatriates.”
Medical services included general check-up of patients, blood pressure checks and blood sugar test. Infants who were at the venue also received free check-up.
Billedo urged various Filipino organisations in Qatar to do the same and partner with QRC in holding similar initiatives. “QRC told us that they were just waiting for any request from the Filipino community to hold activities like this. They are very much willing to partner with us,” he noted.
It is learnt that a number of Filipino groups in Doha and Al Khor, such as the Foundation for Family and Life Migrant Workers, have expressed interest to organise a medical mission with QRC.
CIASI 61892 also regularly holds gift-giving and feeding programmes at POLO-OWWA, benefiting dozens of distressed OFWs.
Its Middle East chairman, Melvin Yadao, said they will continue organising similar activities, fund drives and other projects to help their compatriots in need.
He earlier stressed that their constitution and bylaws include providing various types of help to their colleagues, OFWs, those who are working in the Philippines and other parts of the world. Some of their key projects include the “adopt-a-school programme” that benefited poor but deserving students and their families back home.
Formed on November 16, 2010, in Qatar, CIASI 61892 grew from having 14 members to more than 200 who work as salespersons, housemaids, accountants, while and some are engineers and architects in various companies. It has dozens of chapters around the world.
Members of the group are called Ilocanos residing in Northern Luzon in the Philippines, which comprises regions 1, 2 and 3 (Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon) and the Cordillera Autonomous Region.
BELOW:
A large number of people have benefited from the medical mission organised by CIASI 61892 and QRC. Right: Philippine embassy and labour employees also had the chance to avail of free medical check-up.