Providing health services a ‘crime’

THE ALLIANCE of Health Workers condemns in the highest degree the incarceration and filing of trumped-up charges against nurses Ali Ray Palma and Juti Gomez, both of whom are community health practitioners in Kidapawan.

We hold the Aquino administration responsible for this blatant violation of human rights against community health workers who were just doing their job to provide health services to farmer-victims of hunger and state terrorism.

We deplore the culture of impunity perpetuated by the Aquino administration which treats even the provision of health services as a criminal act; not even in times of conflict or war is this allowed. This only proves that an undeclared martial law is in effect in Kidapawan.

The systematic criminalization and harassment of community health workers is a consistent practice in this government. It brings to mind the murder of the Calago couple in Negros, which was perpetrated by state security forces. The two were leaders of the community-based health program in their village. In many rural areas, community health workers are labelled as communist sympathizers and are subjected to harassment and intimidation by state security forces.

We ask for the immediate and unconditional release of our fellow health workers in Kidapawan and all detained farmers. We demand justice for the victims of the violent dispersal of farmers who were just asking for rice in the face of hunger brought about by El Niño and aggravated by government neglect.

We enjoin all nurses, health professionals and health workers’ unions all over the country to show solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Kidapawan in all capacities and forms.

—SEAN HERBERT VELCHEZ, RN,president, NOHWU-Alliance of
Health Workers