The Filipino community has formed a medical team to provide round-the-clock help for OFWs who may seek refuge in the UAE from Kuwait if war breaks out in Iraq.
This develops as the Philippine diplomatic mission prompts community leaders to make preparations to take care of the needs of possible evacuees, who may be temporarily housed in churches or Filipino-run schools in the UAE.
"If we made preparations but war does not happen, then well and good. But it's better to err on the side of prudence. It's not easy to provide logistical support for possible refugees in case of an armed conflict if we'll do it only as an afterthought," said Consul General Jose Ampeso.
During the 1991 Gulf War, between 5,000 to 7,000 OFWs and their families from Kuwait sought temporary refuge in the UAE before making their final journey back to the Philippines.
The medical preparedness team, chaired by Dr Rosario Tigno, is composed of at least seven doctors with a complement of volunteer medical professionals on 24-hour duty rotations.
"We have gathered together people from the medical community willing to lend a hand when the need arises," said Dr Tigno, who also heads the Filipino Health Care Providers, a group giving voluntary medical services to OFWs during weekends at the Philippine Labour Office here.
The group has also organised a medical mission in Al Ain on Friday, February 21, at the Al Ain Intercontinental, from 9am to 5pm, under the aegis of Philippine embassy in Abu Dhabi.
The 22-person team that will visit Al Ain will have medical doctors, dentists, medical technologists, nurses, opticians (from Al Jabel Optical Centre) and physiotherapists.
The medical mission is organised by the Riza Loren Roxas Butalid Foundation Inc.
Dr Tigno said they will also give free vitamins donated by Puritan's Pride and Nature's Made. The team will also conduct blood sugar tests with Lifescan J&J equipment.
Gulf News 2003
