The health community mourns the death of Dr. Dreyfuss Perlas. He has been laid to rest, but our commitment to seek justice for him remains strong and steadfast.
Health Alliance for Democracy stands in solidarity with the collective condemnation of the killing of Doctor Perlas, the municipal health officer of Sapad, Lanao del Norte, when he was shot and killed last March 1.
Frontline health personnel—doctors, nurses, midwives, etc.—face various difficulties and dangers in the performance of their duties. Yet the most dangerous of these hazards are man-made: threat and intimidation, harassment and violence. These constitute not only gross human rights violations, they pose real risks on their lives. This situation cannot be allowed to go on. This must stop.
We continue to call for swift justice. Without the immediate resolution of cases, and the conviction and punishment of criminals, the death of a rural doctor, who previously volunteered to serve under the Doctors to the Barrios program of the Department of Health, sends a chilling message to those who wish to serve in underserved areas.
We call on the DOH to come up with an unequivocal policy regarding the protection of health workers, whether in the private or public sectors, especially those serving disadvantaged and marginalized communities. It behooves the DOH, as well as the Duterte administration, to act and initiate programs to ensure the safety of our health personnel all over the country. Now!
We call on the health sector to honor the memory of Doctor Drey and others like him by remaining steadfast in their commitment to serve the underserved.
We call on the general public to continue to express their outrage and join the clamor for justice. Let us link arms as we move forward with greater conviction and resolve.
DR. JOSEPH CARABEO, secretary-general, Health Alliance for Democracy, headphil@gmail.com