Medical survey shows Filipino workers are healthier

EXPAT LIFE
By Joe Avancena


Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia appear to be healthier than other expatriates, according to a medical and dental survey conducted in Dammam last week by the Mohammad Al-Dossary Hospital (MDH) in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and the Overseas Filipino Workers Congress in the Eastern Province (OFW-EP), an accredited community partner of the embassy.
The result of the MDH medical and dental survey shows that of the 359 Filipino workers who underwent a series of medical tests, 284 were found to be healthy.
At least 75 Filipino workers were found to be having medical problems, which included high blood pressure, high sugar, high cholesterol, high/low thyroid stimulating hormones, low blood hemoglobin level (HB).
The first 250 workers were given free dental and eye examinations. Women, who were 35 years of age and above, were given free thyroid test.
Philippine Ambassador Antonio Villamor, who inaugurated the free medical outreach event together with labor attaché David Des T. Dicang and MDH director general Abdul Fettah Ennayal, expressed satisfaction on the result of the medical survey.
“One of the embassy’s focuses and concerns is to achieve a good state of health for our overseas workers, something our foreign missions have been emphasizing. We are happy that our workers in Saudi Arabia are comparably healthier than other expatriate groups, which shows that we are succeeding in our drive of reminding our workers to always observe a healthy lifestyle,” Villamor said.
He lauded the MDH for conducting free medical check-ups.
Ennayal, the MDH director general, said that it was one of the social responsibilities of his hospital to conduct free medical check up for members of the expatriate communities.
“MDH has been known for being active in rendering services to the expatriate communities, irrespective of their races and social and religious beliefs. We are happy to be of help in making people aware of their medical condition so as to prevent long term treatment,” Ennayel said.
Ms. Mary Jane P. Tupas, director of nursing of MDH and also president of the OFW Congress in the Eastern Province, and Rajkumar Nair, manager of the office of the director general, were credited for successfully organizing the free medical camp. – SG