ConGen Morales: ‘OFWs should be conscious of their health’

A Filipino woman is brought out of the MTR train in Central on a stretcher after she collapsed on October 23. Consulate officials called the MTR to follow up on her case but were told that nothing untoward happened.

Consul General Antonio Morales urged overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong to take better care of their health, adding that there were many cases of OFWs getting sick.

Speaking during the community meeting at the consulate on November 11, Morales said they had monitored many Filipinos developing symptoms of hypertension while working in HK.

“Napapansin namin ang marami nating kababayan, na hindi siguro healthy yung lifestyle, na-iistress o nagkakaroon ng altapresyon,” Morales said.

“Napapansin din namin na maraming inaatake (sa puso). Minsan, akala natin nahihilo tayo. Yun pala, may deperensya na.  Marami tayong kaso…nakakalungkot yung iba natutumba na lang,” he added.

On Friday (November 16), an Indonesian domestic worker collapsed in the kitchen her employer’s home in Tsueng Kwan O and she later died in the hospital. The police have yet to determine her cause of death.

Morales urged Filipinos in the city to be conscious of their true health condition to nip in the bud any medical condition or sickness that might develop.

“We have to be conscious. Akala natin, healthy tayo pero hindi pala. Ang pinakapuhunan natin dito ang ating kalusugan. Pag hindi tayo malusog, naku mahirapan na tayong maghanap-buhay,” he added.

Labor Attache Jalilo Dela Torre earlier said that the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), which is under the consulate, was offering free medical check-ups for OFWs at its office in Wan Chai from Saturday until Thursday.

Dela Torre said they were offering free tests for blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, Body Mass Index, breast exams, and scheduling for HIV tests.

According to data from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the number of welfare assistance cases involving OFWs with medical problems in HK stood at 113 in 2014; increased to 129 in 2015; 244 in 2016; and 416 in 2017.

The free medical exams will be held at the POLO office on the 18th floor of the Mass Mutual Building at 33 Lockhart Road in Wan Chai.

Dela Torre said the free exams will be available from 9 a. m. until 4 p.m. from Saturday until Thursday.

The Philippine Consulate General had been asking the Hong Kong government to require annual medical exams for foreign domestic workers.

According to OWWA data, the number of OFWs hospitalized here in Hong Kong and who were visited by OWWA officers reached 134 in 2014, 100 in 2015, 151 in 2016, and 194 in 2017.