Morong 43 could have served in communities swept by typhoon Juan

The Morong 43 could have imparted their medical skills during the onslaught of typhoon Juan. Many communities swept by the calamity could have benefitted had they not been held behind bars for unjust and trumped up charges.

Around this time last year, Morong 43 members were responding to affected families of typhoon Ondoy in various areas of Metro Manila and some parts of Luzon swept by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

Immediately after the disaster, Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor, Health Training and Services Director of the Council for Health and Development (CHD) led other health professionals in the relief and medical missions of the Samahang Operasyong Sagip (SOS), a network of groups and individuals involved in disaster response activities.

Last year during their visits to the storm-hit areas, the doctors, nurses and other volunteers led by Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor and Dr. Alexis Montes were able to serve 6,334 patients.

Ma. Teresa Quinawayan, registered midwife and Del Obera, community health worker also took part in organizing these medical and relief missions. Obera coordinated with a lot of hospital workers under the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) to participate with the medical missions along with resource generation and relief distribution. In fact, Quinawayan even helped organize health trainings and taught residents in some communities of Pasig and Quezon City about the management of common diseases like leptospirosis, diarrhea, and flu that are prevalent during the rainy season.

The rest of the detained health workers among the Morong 43 were volunteers in their respective communities rendering basic health services and simple emergency procedures in far-flung areas.

According to Dr. Julie Caguiat, spokesperson of FREE THE 43 HEALTH WORKERS ALLIANCE and also the executive director of the Community Medicine Development Foundation (COMMED), one of the two NGOs that sponsored the training, the Morong 43’s training was designed to respond to medical situations in times of disasters. Among the topics intended to be taught in the First Responders Health Skills Training involved basic first-aid, diagnosis and prevention of common diseases.

“It’s a shame that the government baselessly detained decent and dedicated individuals whose only fault is to help the marginalized who can’t access health services. The arrest is a great disservice to those who could have been extended the help of the detained medical workers,” said Caguiat.

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Reference:
Dr. Julie Caguiat
Spokesperson, FREE THE 43 HEALTH WORKERS ALLIANCE
Mobile: 0909 113 3038 / 0919 486 1580

Dr Merry Mia in Pasig during a medical mission after the onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy

Dr Montes in Montalban

Ma. Teresa Quinawayan

Ma. Teresa Quinawayan, manning the Pharmacy