Investigation for pre-employment health screening ongoing

07 Jul 2011, ZaoBao
女佣染上肺病
因家中有新生兒即將誕生，故聘請一位外國女佣。誰知接她回家 的當天，就發現她有咳嗽和身體不適。女佣代理說那是普通感冒罷了 ，並強調她的體檢合格，X光照片也無恙。
隨著日子一天天過去，她的咳嗽不見好轉。雖然我們也給她服食 各式各樣的止咳藥，但始終不見效，且病情加劇，只好帶她到家庭醫 生處做進一步檢查，並要求重拍X光。
這一拍，赫然發現她的肺部已明顯受肺癆病菌感染。
驚恐之餘，馬上將她送回女佣代理中心。第二天，一家十幾口人 都到肺癆病控制中心接受檢驗。
我覺得最可憐的是：那個只有三個月大、原本出世後完全正常的 健康嬰兒也備受病菌感染的威脅，加上家裡另一個未滿周歲的嬰兒， 都得照X光，並服食藥物。他們都面臨藥物副作用的傷害，這樣不幸 的事，發生在小生命身上，太不應該了。
隨著外籍勞工大量湧入，外籍女佣進入民間家庭，我相信這樣的 事情，在我國應不是孤立事件。如果當局不嚴肅正視這問題，可能還 會有更多無辜的受害者，這也是可怕的社會問題啊！
我想知道的是，這究竟是體檢方面的疏忽，或是女佣本身隱瞞實 情？還是人力部、衛生部對外來勞工的體檢制度出現漏洞？有關當局 是否應當重新檢討這個制度。
我懇切希望衛生部等政府部門重視這問題。
盧更華

Reply From MOH

In “Foreign domestic helper diagnosed with Tuberculosis” (22 June 2011), Mdm Loh shared that her domestic helper was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) shortly after she started work with her family, and asked if there were any lapses or loopholes in the pre-employment health screening tests for foreign domestic workers (FDWs).

New FDWs have to undergo and pass a medical examination within 14 days after arriving in Singapore, before they are issued with the work permit. The objective of the medical examination is to ensure that the FDW is generally fit to work and do not pose a public health threat. We are currently still investigating the pre-employment health screening test that was done for Mdm Loh’s FDW, and we will contact Mdm Loh directly once the investigations are completed.

We are sorry to note that Mdm Loh’s young children at home had to undergo screening for TB and preventive therapy due to their contact with their FDW. We wish them the best of health.

KAREN TAN (MS)
DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
MINISTRY OF HEALTH

FARAH ABDUL RAHIM (MS)
DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
MINISTRY OF MANPOWER