OFW being tested for Ebola in Togo – DFA

ilipino seafarer is eing tested for the ola vir s in ogo est frica the epart ment of oreign ffairs confirmed last night.

o date test res lts are eing a aited spo es man harles ose te ted to reporters.

ogo health officials had reported t o s spected cases of ola involving a ilipino seaman and a ogo citi en.

arlier the said no ilipino has een affected ith the ola vir s in est frica.

dministrator ans acdac of the hilippine verseas mplo ment dministration said ilipino seafarers ma soon e prohi ited from leaving the ports of igeria d e to the threat of ola.

he governing oard ma come o t ith a resol tion e panding to igeria the coverage of the g idelines for ilipino or ers emplo ed in ola affected co ntries he said.

ilipino or ers in igeria m st ta e the necessar pre ca tionar meas res d e to reports that the ola epidemic has spread to that co ntr he added.

o ever acdac said the government is not et stopping the deplo ment of ilipino or ers in igeria.

risis alert level is in ef fect in igeria so there is still no deplo ment an he said.

nder e isting g idelines

all shipping companies with vessels operating or calling on Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone ports shall ensure that Filipino seafarers are properly provided with working gear, including personal protective equipment.

Shore leave and crew change are also not allowed for seafarers in the ports of the three Ebolaaffected countries.

Land-based Filipino workers employed in the three countries are required to undergo medical test for Ebola and to secure clearance prior to return to the Philippines.

The POEA has also issued a memorandum circular advising recruitment agencies to prepare for the possible mandatory repatriation of OFWs from Ebola-affected counties in case the situation worsens.

The Philippine embassy in Lagos, Nigeria is in touch with the Filipino community through community organizations and leaders to advise of steps to be taken to avoid contracting the disease, including restricting non-essential movements, avoiding crowded places and taking extra precautions.

Last month, the DFA raised crisis alert level to 2 (Restriction Phase) in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone due to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

Under Alert Level 2, Filipinos in these countries are instructed to restrict nonessential movements, avoid public places and take extra precautions.

Filipinos were urged to follow the advice of local health authorities.

Ebola is an extremely contagious disease, which is spread from close contact with bodily fluids of infected organisms, both human and animal.