DOH provides medicines, supplies to Leyte quake victims

MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said that it has provided PHP497,428 worth of assorted medicines and supplies to local government units affected by the 6.5 magnitude earthquake in Leyte last week.

DOH Spokesperson Dr. Eric Tayag said the assorted medicine consist of aquatabs (for clean water for drinking); tetanus toxoid to neutralizes toxin excreted by Clostridium tetani that causes tetanus for those with cuts and bruises; and other medicines for those who were hospitalized.

As of July 9, a total of 329 persons were reported injured in the earthquake.

They were brought and treated in hospitals in Kananga, Leyte; Ormoc City, Leyte; Leyte Provincial Hospital, and Carigara District Hospital in Carigara, Leyte;

Majority of the patients were already sent home while 47 others are still receiving treatment in hospitals of Kananga and Ormoc City.

Nine of them are currently admitted in Kananga, Leyte while 38 patients are in Ormoc City hospital.

According to Tayag, as initial response the DOH immediately coordinated with the regional office in Region VIII; raised code blue alert in the hospitals in the quake-affected areas.

“Under Code blue, all necessary personnel should be in the hospital,” the Health Official added.

He said that hospital expenses of patients admitted in government hospitals are free.

On the other hand, he said PhilHealth will negotiate with private hospitals on how to ease the burden of patients they admitted after the earthquake.

On top of it all, the Health official also urged those who suffered injuries and lost their consciousness during the earthquake to submit themselves to further checkup to ensure that their injuries will not be aggravated.