DOH to speed up rehab of quake-hit health facilities

DAVAO CITY, Nov 19 (PIA) – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced in a press conference held in the city his directive to concerned regional directors of Regions 10, 11, 12 and CARAGA to continue the assessment process on damaged health facilities following the series of quakes that hit these regions in October.

“We want to normalize our operations as soon as possible. Also, we need to identify relocation sites on health facilities sitting on fault lines or areas identified by the Phivolcs or the Mines and Geoscience Bureau as no man’s land”, Duque said.

He cited that there were 137 partially damaged health facilities while there are 14 which are totally damaged.

The DOH has then sent its technical and engineering staff to do assessment and come up with recommendation on the appropriate next steps.

“As soon as we get the recommendation, the department will prepare budgetary requirements for necessary actions. I have instructed our regional directors to immediately send to us the list so we can already find resources needed to put these facilities back on track”, Duque said.

Meanwhile, the DOH reported that a total of 52,728 families or 257,053 persons were affected by the earthquake incidents in 317 barangays in Regions 11 and 12. Of the affected families, 11,830 or 56,646 persons are taking temporary shelter in 78 evacuation centers.

A total of 757 casualties were reported. Of whom, 732 were injured and 25 were dead.

The DOH also reported that a total of 1,034 health consultations were done in 19 evacuation centers in Davao Region. Some of the health concerns found are acute respiratory infection, fever, hypertension, acute watery diarrhea, and cough.

More than P5 million worth of commodities were provided by the DOH as augmentation to the response needs of the affected areas.

There were about 37 teams deployed to hold Rapid Health Assessment, Medical, Mental Health, and Psychosocial support, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Nutrition. (PIA/Frances Mae Macapagat)