DOH assists 301 persons during ‘Traslacion’

SWARM OF DEVOTEES. Thousands of devotees join the procession “Traslacion” 2018, in which the miraculous image of the Black Nazarene is brought to the Quiapo Church or the Minor Basilica. People coming from Quirino Grandstand keep up with the icon from Plaza Lawton to Quiapo under the heat of the sun on Tuesday (Jan. 9, 2018). (PNA photo by Oliver Marquez)

MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) reported that it has provided medical assistance to 301 persons who joined the procession of the Black Nazarene or the annual “Traslacion” in Manila as of 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Of the figure, about 127 suffered cuts, puncture wounds and soft tissue injuries, such as sprain, while 68 suffered hypertension, and 16 experienced dizziness.

According to the DOH, none of them required hospitalization.

The department has deployed 15 medical teams from DOH hospitals in Manila along the route of the procession. Manila’s local government units and partners, such as the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), also sent medical teams and ambulances.

The PRC, in its 10 a.m. update, reported that they have served about 465 individuals, 175 of whom availed of free blood pressure monitoring, 226 sought treatment for abrasions, cuts, body pain, fever, dizziness, toothache, vomiting, abdominal pain, and sprain, 19 suffered breathing difficulties, and three suffered fractures.