69 receive medical attention from MMDA amid Black Nazarene activities

Sixty-nine devotees who participated in the various activities related to the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila have received medical assistance from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), an official said Monday.

"Compared sa mga nakaraan na Traslacion natin, isa po ito sa pinakamababa na cases na na-handle namin sa MMDA," said Hanna Zaballero, deputy head of the MMDA's Road Emergency Group.

(Compared with past Traslacions, this year's number was one of the lowest the MMDA has handled.)

Of the 69 total number recorded from January 6 to 6 a.m. of January 9, Zaballero said six were trauma cases or those who wanted their existing wounds checked; 11 were medical cases or those who experienced dizziness or headache, and 52 just wanted their blood pressure checked.

Zaballero said the number does not include those who sought medical assistance from the Philippine Red Cross, medics from the Philippine National Police and Manila City Health Department.

On Sunday, some 38,000 devotees gathered at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park for the "Pagpupugay" or viewing and touching of the image of the Black Nazarene, just one of the activities related to the annual feast.

Before dawn on Sunday, an estimated 88,000 devotees attended the first-ever Walk of Faith, held in place of the traditional Traslacion that was scrapped again this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The walk started from the Quirino Grandstand at Luneta Park at 1:30 a.m. and then finished after two and a half hours upon arrival at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, more popularly known as Quiapo Church.

For those still planning to join the activities, Zaballero urged them, especially the elderly, to bring water and food and also medicine if they have existing medical conditions.

Attendees were also urged to prepare for any kind of weather and to continue observing minimum health standards related to COVID-19 like the wearing of face mask and frequent handwashing through rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer. —KBK, GMA Integrated News