A Filipino migrant worker group wants to raise awareness among fellow workers in Hong Kong after 39 of its member passed away due to cancer since 2007.
The Filipino Migrant Cancer Support Society (Filmcass-HK) said this year five of its members passed away due to different kinds of cancer, hongkongnews.com.hk reported.
According to data from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), cancer was the second leading cause of illness of Filipino workers who were repatriated to the Philippines between 2014 and 2017.
To raise awareness and remember the deceased, Filmcass-HK held a concert on Hong Kong Island on October 14, with songs and prayers.
Gemma Solomon, the Filmcass-HK chair, urged workers be careful as there was an increasing number of them in Hong Kong confirmed to be suffering from cancer. She added that the group was now helping five people in HK after they were diagnosed with cancer.
Solomon said the group had at least 50 members including caregivers, patients and cancer survivors. Twenty have survived, including three who migrated to Canada, Macau and Saudi Arabia.
OWWA data showed that stroke victims comprised 36% of Filipino workers repatriated to the Philippines, followed by cancer, mild depression, lung problems and spinal problems.