JEDDAH, 8 December 2005 — A medical-dental-optical mission will be held at the International Philippine School in Jeddah (IPSJ) tomorrow and it will be made available to all members of the Filipino community, organizers said yesterday.
The Kasapi Congress, which is spearhead-ing the free check-up and examination, said Filipino doctors, dentists, optometrists, nurses and other health workers will be volunteering their services again to serve compatriots.
The event opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m., said Kasapi Chairman Nazruddin Dianalan.
Providing medical volunteers are leading hospitals and clinics in Jeddah such as the United Doctors, Bugshan, Soliman Fakeeh, Saudi-German, Mustaqbal, Bakhsh, King Fahd General Hospital, Saudi-American Clinic, Bab Makkah, and other Filipino community groups such as Pangasinan Saudi Workers Association, BISA and Kapit-Bisig.
Dianalan said the Medical Mission is principally sponsored by Arabian Malaysian Takaful Company, one of the largest health care insurance providers in the Kingdom.
Organizers said they moved the venue of the event to the IPSJ because the consulate will not be available tomorrow.
The transfer of venue was welcomed by the IPSJ, which is also celebrating its 24th year of foundation.
“The medical mission would have served as a kickoff for the celebration of this year’s OFW Month,” Dianalan said.
December of every year is mandated by the Philippine government as OFW Month to honor Filipinos working overseas.
But this had not been observed at the Philippine Consulate during the last two years and community activities have been stopped at the consulate for alleged reasons of security and complaints of noise by neighboring residents.
Kasapi leaders noted that community groups have made attempts to relocate the consulate five years ago upon the request of the former consul general.
Several sites have been found and a proposal was sent to Manila but these have apparently been not acted upon due to financial constraints, they said.
Kasapi, formed in 1991, is the oldest federation of Filipino community associations in the Middle East.
Its other officers are Vic Aguila, vice chairman; Gil Manese, secretary-general; Jhoe Usman, committee chairman for political affairs; John Asperilla, committee chairman for reintegration; Romy Bani, committee chairman for finance; Mitchell Haji Omar, committee chairman for cultural activities; and Boy Cornejo, committee chairman for sports.
