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DOH exec advises Pinoys attending papal events to bring own food, water, medicines


Filipinos wanting to attend events during Pope Francis' visit in January should bring their own food, water and medicine, a Department of Health official advised Wednesday.
 
DOH Undersecretary Teodoro Herbosa said bringing one's own food and drinking water instead of buying from vendors could prevent possible food poisoning.
 
“We are also calling on everyone with medical conditions to bring their respective medicines,” he said in an interview with the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site.
 
Pope Francis is to attend several events in Manila and Leyte during his visit in the country from Jan. 15 to 19.
 
Herbosa said they expect at least one to two million people in Tacloban Airport on January 17 and some five to six million Filipinos at the Mass at Quirino Grandstand.
 
25 medical teams
 
At least 25 medical teams, each with four medical doctors, nurses and other medical staff, are being organized for the visit, he said.
 
The DOH will also have medical ambulances on standby.
 
Medical professionals from the University of Santo Tomas will attend to the health concerns of the faithful during the event there.
 
Also, the DOH is coordinating with the Cardinal Santos Memorial Medical Center.
 
2 field hospitals at Luneta
 
Meanwhile, Herboso said they may set up at least two field hospitals near the Quirino Grandstand to attend to emergencies due to the expected heavy traffic.
 
He cited their experience during the visit of now Saint John Paul II in 1995, when traffic was gridlocked in all major thoroughfares leading to the Quirino Grandstand.
 
The Pope had to take a presidential helicopter to Rizal Park for the mid-morning Mass.
 
Medical staff boost
 
Herbosa said doctors and nurses from Central and Western Visayas may bolster medical professionals from Regional Field Unit 8 in Tacloban City.
 
The DOH is also considering having medical staff from Regional Field Unit 5 in Legazpi City joining their Visayan counterparts. — Joel Locsin/VC, GMA News
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