THE Department of Health Region (DOH-Central Luzon) lauded local government units in Central Luzon for passing executive orders or ordinances that prohibits discrimination among health workers and those confirmed and suspected coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients.
The health department said measures are vital in protecting the fundamental rights of privacy of every person afflicted with Covid-19 as well as persons attending to and responding to their medical needs.
"It also protects their human dignity from being discriminated, humiliated, and being disassociated with," said DOH regional director Cesar Cassion.
Cassion stressed that protection of everyone against any form of discrimination and promotion of equal treatment of people regardless of their status, religion, race, health, physical or medical condition, gender, age, economic status, social status, or occupation is now ensured through local laws.
Among those who issued executive orders or passed ordinances include the provincial governments of Tarlac, Bataan, Nueva Ecija and Zambales as well as the city governments of Olongapo, Angeles and San Fernando.
Cassion urged other local governments to emulate the initiative in order to eliminate discrimination among their citizens.
“During this challenging time, we are called to be united and not discriminatory. Unified efforts between government offices will bring us to a shared vision of a Covid-free Central Luzon and ultimately a country unconstrained of this disease," Cassion said.