The Department of Health (DOH) said that it has prepositioned about P26.5M worth of drugs, medicines, medical supplies, health kits, plus personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other COVID-19 paraphernalia in preparation for Typhoon Rolly.
In a statement, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said that a total of P21.7M worth of commodities are also available at the DOH Central office warehouse and can be mobilized immediately.
Duque also assured the public that COVID-19 patients and health workers in Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMFs) have been evacuated already to assure their safety. Patients and staff of Mega TTMFs such as the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Filinvest Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities, and Philippine Arena were transferred to various hotel isolation facilities in the National Capital Region. On the other hand, TTMF patients and staff in Albay province were evacuated in day care centers, public schools, and evacuation centers.
He likewise urged the public to continue practicing minimum public health standards to prevent transmission of COVID-19 in their homes and in evacuation centers.
Duque said in preparation for Typhoon “Rolly,” the DOH has raised the code red alert in all affected regions. Hospitals were already alerted to ensure the availability of standby functional generator sets and adequate critical life-saving equipment for use in emergency situations.
At the regional Centers for Health Development (CHDs), Sec. Duque said he has instructed the activation of emergency operation centers in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and Bicol region.
The DOH chief also urged the public to help prevent leptospirosis and other waterborne diseases by staying at home and not wade anymore in flood waters, especially those with foot or leg wounds, and to boil their drinking water for about three minutes.