MANILA, Sept. 5 (PNA) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is closely coordinating with the Department of Health (DoH) on the conduct of medical examinations for returning peacekeepers from Liberia to prevent possible Ebola infection in the country.
Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP Public Information Office (PIO) head, said Friday said that post-arrival medical examinations will be conducted on all returning peacekeepers who are due to come home in October.
The PNP sent 30 policemen to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Liberia, one of the African states most affected by the Ebola virus.
The 30 PNP personnel are due to come home after finishing their tour of duty in October this year.
“The PNP is closely coordinating with the Department of Health for other preemptive actions such as the conduct of post-arrival medical examinations on all returning peacekeepers to prevent possible infection in the country,” said Sindac.
Earlier, the PNP said their policemen in Liberia remain uninfected and that measures are in place to ensure that they are Ebola-free.
There are 16 officials and 14 non-commissioned policemen deployed to Liberia in West Africa. Five of the 30 PNP personnel are women.
To monitor the peacekeepers’ health status in the light of the Ebola outbreak, the PNP requires periodic medical updates from Liberia.
Peacekeeping members are advised to strictly avoid direct physical contact with infected or deceased persons, wash hands frequently with soap and water and other basic precautionary actions.
Meanwhile, the PNP will continue to help the DOH in locating suspected carriers of infectious diseases including returning overseas Filipino workers from infected countries.
He added the PNP is readying its hospital facilities in Camp Crame for any possible case of Ebola virus infection.
Santos said they are preparing isolation rooms should they have patients afflicted with the virus.
“We are finishing our preparation of the isolation rooms, we are preparing for it,” Santos said during in a press briefing in Camp Crame on Friday.
Liberia is among the most affected states by the deadly Ebola virus, confirming at least 1,378 cases while 420 Liberians have died in the outbreak. (Philippine News Agency)
