MANILA – Migrante-Middle East and member-organizations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia initiated a free flu vaccination campaign on Feb. 13 to help the Riyadh government and the Filipino community combat the spread of flu especially of MERs-CoV.

John Leonard Monterona, the Riyadh-based coordinator of Migrante-Middle East, said they have gathered 25 flu vaccines from their members from the medical profession like nurses and doctors.

“Some vaccines were bought by member-organizations under Migrante-ME and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia chapters through contributions,” Monterona said.

Photo courtesy of Migrante-Middle East

This was the first launching of Migrante-ME’s free flu vaccine activity to combat the spread of MERs-CoV. The next flu vaccination is set on Feb. 27.

“We aim to get 100 more vaccines until Feb.27 to serve more OFWs.”

Monterona said they are not relying on any help or assistance from the Philippine Embassy in the Middle East. They also do not know any efforts made the embassy to combat the spread of MERs-CoV.

The group also vows to continuously launch health information tips and education campaign in combating MERs-CoV.

Photo by Migrante-Middle East
Text by Anne Marxze D. Umil