In order to establish May 7 as Health Worker's Day
PASS HEALTH WORKER'S DAY BILL, ANGARA URGES HOUSE

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today urged his colleagues at the House of Representatives (HoR) to pass a pending legislation which seeks to establish May 7 of every year as the day for the country's health workers; this is amid the Influenza A (H1N1) scare - commonly known as Swine flu - which is gripping the world.

"This bill exemplifies the affirmed objective of Republic Act 2305 or the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers which is to promote and improve the social and economic well-being of the health workers, their living and working conditions and terms of employment," said Angara who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance.

He added, "Specifically, it seeks to re-establish May 7 of each year as Health Workers' Day in order to give due respect and appreciation to the services of the main pillars of the country's health care system, our health workers. They are our doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, technicians, nutritionists, therapists, aides, and all other medical and allied professionals and support services personnel who work vigorously in our hospitals, clinics, barangay health centers and health care units in rural and urban areas."

Angara, author of the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers, said that although Proclamation No. 96 of President Corazon Aquino declared May 7 of said year and every year thereafter as "Health Workers' Day," its commemoration is virtually non-existent to date, and along with it, the subject of its celebration thus the bill.

He added that it is hoped that the annual public observance of the "Health Workers' Day" will draw awareness to the plight of our health sector and consequently, underscore the State's responsibility to allot sufficient budget priority on health and to improve the living and working conditions of our health workers.

"Global health crises such as the Influenza A (H1N1) - commonly known as the Swine flu - brings into forefront the bravery and dedication of our country's health workers. Their personal sacrifices and commitment to public service must be properly recognized," added Angara.

The Health Worker's day bill seeks to declare May 7 of every year as a special working holiday to be known as "Health Workers' Day".

Once enacted into law, the bill will enjoin all heads of government health facilities, offices and instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled hospitals as well as local government health units, and employers in the private sector, to encourage and afford sufficient time and opportunities for their employees to engage and participate in any activity to mark Health Workers' Day.