PHILIPPINE COVENANT ON PROMOTING THE HEALTH OF OVERSEAS FILIPINOS

PHILIPPINE COVENANT ON PROMOTING THE HEALTH OF OVERSEAS FILIPINOS

We, representatives from the Department of Health and other government agencies, non-governmental organizations, private sector entities, academic institutions, international organizations, and migrant associations and communities:

Recognize that every Overseas Filipino, regardless of age, sex, gender, religion, cultural background, political ideology, location and migrant status, must enjoy the fundamental human right to the highest attainable standard of health, as enshrined in the Philippines’ international commitments and national policies;

Acknowledge that the health sector’s centerpiece agenda, Kalusugan Pangkalahatan or Universal Health Care, cannot be realized if the health of migrants is not considered and incorporated in ongoing health reforms;

Note that today’s Overseas Filipinos are increasingly facing various health risks and challenges, such as infectious diseases such as HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis, and emerging infections; reproductive health concerns; mental health issues; non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer; limited access to health care; exposure to health hazards in the workplace as well as the natural environment, including climate change; special medical needs in disaster and conflict situations, among others;

And therefore we commit to promote the health and well-being of Overseas Filipinos anywhere and at all times, by:

Creating the necessary conditions within and beyond the health system for the promotion of the health of Overseas Filipinos and their families;
Developing and implementing health policies that are sensitive to the needs of migrants, and delivering health services in a culturally-sensitive and gender-responsive manner;
Adopting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach in advancing the health of Overseas Filipinos, and;
Actively participating in initiatives that seek to promote the health of Overseas Filipinos, including policy dialogue, advocacy, capacity building, service delivery, collaborative research, network and partnership building, international cooperation, resource mobilization, information sharing, and monitoring and evaluation.

We sign this Covenant during the First National Conference on Migrant Health held on the 11th of September, 2014, in Manila.