Following the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Health Secretary Ted Herbosa held an Emergency Command Conference to bring basic medical care to evacuation centers.
On authority of the President, Herbosa gave instructions to all Regional Directors of the Department of Health (DOH) Centers for Health Development (CHDs; regional offices) to ensure that medical teams are stationed in evacuation centers and also coordinating with local disaster risk reduction and management office (DRRMO) to go around flooded areas to ensure basic medical services.
The health chief himself visited facilities of the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) in Quezon City; Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center (ARMMC) in Marikina City; H. Bautista Elementary School in Marikina; and the San Mateo Elementary School in San Mateo, Rizal. The latter two schools were being used as evacuation centers with around 4,000 displaced individuals each.
“Nautusan ako na puntahan ang mga evacuation center at siguraduhing may health services.”
“Mahal kayo ni President BBM. Nautusan ako na puntahan ang mga evacuation center at siguraduhing may health services,” the health head said in one of his visits.
During the Emergency Command Conference, DOH Regional Directors reported actions taken by DOH and local government physicians, nurses, midwives, barangay health workers and other health staff at evacuation centers.
They have been continuously assessing medical and public health service needs.
Proper nutrition through warm cooked meals were also being distributed. Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste disposal services were also being carried out.
Furthermore, DOH and LGU health staff have also been providing mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS).
Herbosa instructed all health teams to make use of current referral pathways to conduct emergency or critical cases to larger medical centers, especially nearby DOH hospitals that are following the Code Blue or Code White alerts earlier issued.
During the Emergency Command Conference, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director-General Samuel Zacate expedited the clearance of around 1,000,000 capsules of Doxycycline.
The DOH has started delivery of the drug, which is prescribed both as prophylaxis and treatment for Leptospirosis, to all regions nationwide.
“I have also instructed the emergency purchase of medicines for chronic conditions of evacuees, such as hypertension and diabetes.”
“I have also instructed the emergency purchase of medicines for chronic conditions of evacuees, such as hypertension and diabetes, as well as for the other health conditions of people in evacuation,” he said.
“We will continue to provide health services to the people as directed by President Marcos,” Herbosa added.
