05 March 2014- Ambassador Bayani S. Mercado,   the non-resident Philippine Ambassador to Finland based in Oslo, visited the Attendo Varisto nursing home near Helsinki last February 26, accompanied by Consul General Patrick John U. Hilado and Philippine Honorary Consul in Helsinki Teresita Z. Ruutu.

The Ambassador was welcomed by Attendo’s CEO Mr. Pertti Karjalainen and other officials of the company. He also met with the Filipino nurses currently working at the nursing home. 

Mr. Karjalainen informed the Ambassador that Attendo is very satisfied with the group of Filipino nurses currently working with the company citing them for their dedication, work ethic and the compassion they bring into their profession. 

For his part,  the Ambassador commended Attendo and its partner firms for the responsible way they have done their recruitment of nurses from the Philippines, citing in particular the extensive cross-cultural preparations given to the nurses they hire including the provision of free Finnish language training at a school in Baguio City. The Ambassador noted the importance of such preparations and post-arrival support in the deployment of Philippine nurses to foreign countries like Finland. The Ambassador said he was happy to learn from the nurses working at the Attendo nursing home that they are generally happy with their employer and their working conditions in Finland.

According to Mr. Karjalainen Attendo has employed Philippine nurses since 2012. There are 81 nurses now with Attendo and more Filipino nurses are arriving during the winter and spring time to work at Attendo nursing homes all around Finland after they have completed their language training in Baguio City. END