Bicol health dep’t asks DOH for supplies for typhoon recovery efforts

The Center for Health Development (CHD) in Bicol has sought the assistance of the Department of Health (DOH) for supplies needed in recovery efforts following the onslaught of Typhoon Rolly, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Monday.

At a briefing, Duque said that the Bicol CHD sent in a request for hygiene kits, chlorine granules, cadaver bags, collapsible containers, jerry cans, and first aid kits.

He said that supplies are being prepared for deployment to Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Masbate, and Sorsogon.

“Tayo po ay magpapadala ng mga 7,500 hygiene kits, at least 20 vials of chlorine granules, 500 cadaver bags, 7,500 jerry cans, 1,000 first aid kits,” Duque said.

“Para sa Catanduanes, the same items po ang kailangan nila but we are still coordinating for the initial estimates,” he added.

Duque also said that the DOH’s rapid health assessment team sent to the Bicol region estimated P55 million in total damages to health facilities.

Of this number, P30 million came from the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital, P10 million from the Bicol General Hospital, and P15 million from the Bicol Regional Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory.

Duque said the DOH was still awaiting updates on the damages sustained by the Bicol Medical Center and the Bicol CHD.

The health chief earlier said that healthcare facilities and medical workers, especially in the Bicol region, were hit hard by Rolly. 

The Office of Civil Defense in Bicol earlier said the death toll in the region had climbed to 16. 

President Rodrigo Duterte, meanwhile, expressed renewed confidence in Duque.

“Ang nahalata ko dito is the surveillance and the vigilance in keeping track of possible outbreaks. I like that… that’s why I cannot find any plausible or even a meager argument for your suspension,” he said. — BM, GMA News