Friday, January 27, 2006
Public warned against fake health workers
By Barbara Carla R. Quiero
DAVAO CITY -- The regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) issued Thursday a warning against the presence of fake health workers roaming around Davao City, engaging in a "new modus operandi."
According to DOH information officer Anna Remolar, these fake health workers carry identification cards purportedly issued by DOH. "What they are doing now is that they conduct free blood sugar screening, after that they will sell vitamins," she said in an interview.
These vitamins, she said, are very expensive and are not registered with the Bureau of Food and Drugs Administration (Bfad).
Remolar said these impostors can be easily identified, saying DOH does not send a team of health workers to conduct house-to-house blood sugar screening.
"Ang meron lang (What we have) are Barangay Health Workers (BHWs). The locality itself can identify them and they have an identification card," she said.
Remolar also said BHWs can only check blood pressures and hold health counseling, but never conduct blood sugar screening.
Unlike the fake ones, village health workers also do not sell drugs and medicines, and never go to subdivisions and offices.
Remolar said fake health workers work as a team, adding that a total of 10 teams of fake health workers are roaming around Davao Region with more than two members each team.
"Before, they give free checking of blood pressure (BP) then, baligya ug (they will sell) vitamins, usually ila storya, naga house to house sila," Remolar said.
Their target, according to Remolar, are senior citizens living in subdivisions and those who are still in their offices. Senior citizens are usually the ones left at home and they can easily afford the high cost of the "vitamins", Remolar added.
She said the fake health workers sell vitamin sets at a minimum price of P2,000 per set.
"This is very expensive; some are not registered (with) sa Bfad," Remolar said.
If a vitamin is not registered with Bfad, Remolar said, then it is considered a counterfeit.
Remolar said fake health workers have existed since 2004 not only in Davao City but also in the Island Garden of Samal (Igacos), South Cotabato, and Kidapawan.
She appealed to the public that in case they could identify a fake health worker, they should report this person immediately to the health department. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(January 27, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
Japan's humanitarian efforts go on amid safety concerns