By Roy Mabasa The Philippine Embassy in London has called on the British government to look into the concerns of Filipino nurses regarding the need for more personal protective equipment (PPEs) in their workplaces. A pedestrian walks past graffiti depicting the logo of Britain's NHS (National Health Service), merged with the emblem or badge of the fictional super heroes Superman and Superwoman, on the shuttered entrance of a closed Pizza restaurant in Liverpool, north west England on April 20, 2020, as life in Britain continues during the nationwide lockdown to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP / MANILA BULLETIN) This was due to the deaths of at least 20 Filipino health workers due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. “We are deeply concerned about the deaths of Filipino health workers who sacrificed their lives as the world continues to fight this vicious disease. They put their lives on the line so that others may heal, live, and be reunited with their loved ones,” Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Antonio Lagdameo said in a statement. The Embassy raised the issue before the British Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) conveying the need for more protection to Filipino health workers especially those assigned in wards dedicated for COVID patients. As of April 20, 2020, it was reported that no less than 20 Filipino healthcare workers have perished in the UK's fight against COVID-19. It noted that the figure represents around 50 percent of at least 50 Filipinos—by citizenship or ethnicity—who died of the disease, including three other undocumented immigrants. According to the Embassy, the deaths of Filipino healthcare workers related to the pandemic have caused a stir among British society since it is well known that Filipinos represent the third biggest group of National Health Service (NHS) staff, following after the British and Indians. Based on a March 2019 report on the NHS's workplace diversity, nearly 19,000 Filipinos serve the UK's public health system either as medical professionals such as nurses and allied health professionals or as support staff. Following the death of the Filipino health workers, various independent fundraisers have been organized by the friends and family of those who have succumbed to the disease, while several Filipino community organizations are contributing to support those who continue to serve in the front line. The Embassy added that those who died worked in hospitals across England, which has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the entire United Kingdom. Out of the 386,044 tested as of April 20, 2020, nearly 125,000 individuals have tested positive for the virus. Of those hospitalized and tested positive, over 16,500 have died.