Herbosa condemns violence vs. health workers

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa on Monday denounced the violence committed against health workers, following the shooting of a doctor in Maguindanao del Sur.

“Hindi lang doktor, pati nurses, midwife, lahat. Ang health workers ay tumutulong lang sa ating mga pasyente. Kung hindi kayo satisfied sa service nila, hindi paraan ang pagpatay sa ating health workers,” Herbosa said in an ambush interview.

(It’s not only doctors, but also nurses, midwives, and others. Health workers help our patients. If you are not satisfied with their service, killing our health workers is not the way to go.)

The Health chief issued the remark after Dr. Sharmaine Barroquilloa from Sultan Kudarat Provincial Hospital was shot and heavily wounded by motorcycle-riding gunmen while she was driving her vehicle on February 3.

The victim was able to continue driving away from the unidentified suspects, but crashed into a tricycle carrying three passengers.

The doctor was brought to a hospital, along with the tricycle passengers who were also injured in the collision.

Herbosa lamented that the country already lacks health care workers, and yet some of them are still being targeted by assailants.

“Kulang na nga tayo ng health workers, nag-a-abroad sila [papunta] sa ibang bansa, tapos dito papatayin. We abhor this kind of behavior,” he added.

(We lack health workers because they go to other countries to work, and yet they are killed here. We abhor this kind of behavior.)

Sultan Kudarat Governor Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu had also condemned the shooting and offered a P1 million reward to anyone who can provide information to catch the perpetrators. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News