New york: Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, representing the Philippines at a high-level forum during the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), emphasized the necessity for collective action to empower and protect frontline health workers globally.
According to Philippines News Agency, Cacdac highlighted the Philippines' comprehensive governmental strategy to support health workers at a forum hosted by the Frontline Health Workers Coalition and its partners, held on the sidelines of the UNGA80. He stressed the importance of building a resilient health workforce through protection, preparation, and equitable deployment of current and future health workers.
Cacdac emphasized that the future of global health is reliant on a unified commitment to investing in and empowering health workers. He reiterated the Philippines' dedication to advancing policies that protect both domestic and migrant health workers, urging for increased international collaboration.
He pointed out the critical need for improved data governance and information systems, which are crucial for evidence-based policymaking aimed at safeguarding and supporting health workers. Additionally, Cacdac highlighted the Philippines' pledge to global cooperation, especially in digital health innovation, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building through education and training.
Cacdac called for strengthened education and training systems, fair compensation, safe working conditions, and an environment conducive to continuous learning and professional growth. He also highlighted the unique contributions of Filipino migrant health workers and the Department of Migrant Workers' (DMW) efforts to ensure their welfare and protection. These efforts include promoting fair and ethical labor mobility, enhancing representation through 42 Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) worldwide, and offering training, upskilling, and reintegration support for returning workers.
The DMW noted that other prominent speakers, including Rwanda Minister of Health Sabin Nsanzimana and Kisumu, Kenya County Health Minister Gregory Ganda, discussed their respective countries' initiatives to support their burgeoning healthcare workforce. The forum, held at the Harvard Club in New York, attracted over 150 participants from various health-related sectors.
Beyond the forum, Cacdac participated in a UN high-level dialogue on migration and development, co-hosted by the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Philippines, and Somalia with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The discussion explored the complexities of migration, weighing its benefits against challenges such as human trafficking, illegal recruitment, and rising nationalism.
Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro presented the Philippines' model of leveraging migration to promote inclusive growth and development, underscoring the country's dual role as both a major labor-exporting nation and a global advocate for migrant welfare.
