By Joey Aguilar

More than 200 workers from different expatriate communities have benefited from a medical mission in Industrial Area organised by the United Filipino Organisations in Qatar (UFOQ) held recently.
In co-operation with Guardians Legion Qatar (GLQ), the activity provided free medical check up and medicines to Indian, Filipino, Bangladeshi, Nepali, and Pakistani workers who suffer from ailments such as colds, cough, fever and high blood pressure, among others.
UFOQ chairman Frank Jamandre said members of Filipino Medical Association and Philippine Pharmacists Association, and Philippine Nurses Association in Qatar also volunteered to take part in the “noble endeavour.”
He thanked the volunteers for spending their weekly offs to serve the community and other nationalities.
As part of the programmes for 2014-2015, Jamandre said at least eight medical missions will be organised this year until the Philippine Independence Day celebration in June. Beneficiaries praised the initiative.
According to BalitangQ, the initiative is the second project of GLQ and it is planning to hold another one at Shahaniya in Doha in the coming months.
GLQ chairman Rolan “FRMG Bongbong” Espadilla Nevado, said the area is one of the places where many Filipino workers stay.
“They should be visited regularly and monitored for their condition since they really work so hard in the field,” he added.
UFOQ is expected to spearhead several activities for the upcoming Independence Day celebration at Sheraton Hotel.
On the same day, members of the Philippine Independence Day Committee also handed over to Labour Attaché Leopoldo De Jesus five plane tickets for distressed Filipino expatriates.
Jamandre said they also plan to implement a number of initiatives and projects for the welfare of Filipino expatriates in Qatar.
Announcements, updates on some programmes, and news about UFOQ events can be viewed on its website www.ufoq.org and Facebook page.
The UFOQ chairman has asked leaders of Filipino organisations in the country to unite and work together for a common goal: to uplift the lives of Filipino expatriates and families.
Jamandre also announced that they need 250 volunteers who will be available from 6am to 4pm on the Qatar National Sports Day on February 10.
Those who want to join can contact Jamandre at 5552-2623 ([email protected]), Virgilio Bunda at 5540-8806 ([email protected]), Manuel Camato at 5561-0322 ([email protected]) or Mercy Vergara at 5561-0422 ([email protected]).