Edmonton couple fly out to aid Typhoon Haiyan victims

HSAA/NUPGE donates $10,000 while board member flies out to help disaster victims.

Edmonton (18 Nov. 2013) – The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE) is contributing $10,000 to help victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, while a member of its board flies out to the country as part of a medical relief team.

Health care union understands need for on the ground support and expertise in emergency situations

“As health-care workers, many of whom work in emergency situations, we have some understanding of what is needed when disaster strikes,” says Elisabeth Ballermann, HSAA President, the union that represents nearly 25,000 paramedical, technical, professional and general support employees in health care.

“Our board made a decision to donate $10,000 from our Humanitarian Fund to Canadian Medical Assistance Teams (CMAT), a registered charity that sends volunteer relief team to disasters all over the world. One of our own board members has been deployed to join a CMAT heading to the Philippines on Sunday,” she says.

Public service workers part of the Canadian Medical Assistance Team 

Michael Parker, HSAA board member and a paramedic in Edmonton, will be heading to the Philippines with his wife, Beverly, who is a registered nurse.

“We will be flying out on Sunday and heading to the city Cebu in the Philippines,” says Parker. “We will be working as part of a CMAT team operating out of mobile hospitals in the area. We will do all we can to help the victims of this terrible typhoon.”

Thousands have died as a result of the disaster, with many thousands more injured and estimates of more than half a million people displaced.

Union members caring go beyond boundaries

“I’m grateful to be part of a union that recognizes the need to help out people even if they are a long way from home. I’m sure the sizable cash donation is something all of our members support. I’m also grateful to my employer, Alberta Health Services (AHS) for making it possible for me to go,” says Parker.

“Our members do great work saving lives in Alberta every day. It’s only natural that we want to help save lives overseas when disaster strikes,” he says.