DOH-Ilocos Region sends out various health commodities and medical teams deployed in the province of Ilocos Norte to provide post-calamity health assistance to various municipalities devastated by Typhoon Egay last July 26-27, 2023
THE Department of Health – Ilocos Region deployed medical and response teams from the regional office (37 health personnel) and Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) (27) health personnel) composed of medical doctors, nurses and engineers to assist and provide post-calamity health assistance to residents affected by the recent Typhoon “Egay” which devastated the province of Ilocos Norte last July 26-28, 2023.
The team was divided into four clusters that will provide medical and public health water sanitation and hygiene, nutrition, mental health and psychosocial support.
Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center also deployed three (3) teams consisting of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical social workers, dietitians and ambulance drivers to augment and provide medical services for communities that were seriously affected by Typhoon Egay.
Team 1 was stationed in the town of Adams, the municipalities of Currimao and Badoc were covered by Team 2, and Team 3 extended their aid to the town of Banna, offering medical consultations and performing minor surgeries.
Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco said that the regional office has already delivered various commodities that were received by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) on July 27, 2023, including first aid kits, heavy-duty cot beds, hygiene kits, water containers/jerry cans, troclosene sodium effervescent tablet for disinfection of drinking water, antibiotics, cough and cold medications, pain relievers, vitamins, and salbutamol inhalers amounting to a total of ₱381,774.
“This is the first batch of commodities sent to the province last July 27, 2-23 and we have again delivered assorted drugs and meds and first aid kits coming from the DOH central office amounting to P546,757.20, as per request of Senator Imee R. Marcos and received by PGIN yesterday morning, July 29, 2023, to further augment the existing supplies already prepositioned in the province,” she stated.
“Plus, dinagdagan pa naming ang mga hygiene kits, jerry Cans and bottled water amounting to P180,715 and delivered also to PGIN on July 29, 2023. These communities and the medical teams deployed are employed to ensure that no health problems such as food and water-borne illnesses will arise.”
“We are continuously monitoring everything and making sure that medical assistance is adequate. All our provincial DOH offices are in coordination with the local government units, district hospitals to provide for any additional assistance or medical services.”
In Ilocos region, the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur were among the areas severely devastated by “Typhoon Egay”. The province is under a state of calamity including Ilocos Sur and Dagupan City, Pangasinan.
Sydiongco added that the regional office has also sent additional hygiene kits to the provinces of Ilocos Sur with 250 kits, La Union with 215 kits and Pangasinan with 200.
She also cautioned residents to stay on alert as another tropical depression threatens to enter the country and advised families living near the coastal waters and rivers to proceed to evacuation centers should there be a threat of a tsunami or flood.
“The regional office and its hospitals are ready to provide medical assistance. Patuloy po tayong mag-ingat at umiwas sa anumang sakuna para po sa ating kaligtasan at ng ating pamilya at ugaliing making at sumunod sa alintuntunin ng ating mga lokal na pamahalaan,” she strongly reminded.
