THE Department of Health (DOH) commended local government units in Central Luzon for passing executive orders and ordinances prohibiting the discrimination against health workers and those confirmed and suspected coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients.
“These measures protect 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. 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 ensured,” DOH-Central Luzon director Cesar Cassion said.
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 and Angeles.
“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. Hence, we encourage the other local governments to push the same initiative in order to eliminate discrimination among their citizens,” Cassion added. (PIA-Central Luzon)