DOH Central Visayas, Cebu hospital sending medical teams to Tacloban for papal visit

A medical team from the Department of Health's Central Visayas regional office will be deployed to Tacloban City to augment the medical staff there in time for Pope Francis' visit.

 

State-run Philippines News Agency quoted DOH-7 Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit head Dr. Dino Caing as saying this will "show solidarity with the Warays in welcoming the pope."

 

“We’ll bring ambulatory medicines and apparatus for [a] first aid station para sa venue,” said Caing, who will lead the team including three doctors and three nurses - all of whom hail from Tacloban City.

 

The team is to leave for Tacloban City on Monday, Jan. 12.

 

Caing said the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City will also send a medical team to Tacloban.

 

Caing said they hope to pull out of Tacloban City on Jan. 17 then take a boat ride to Cebu so they can take part in the Sinulog grand parade on Jan. 18.

 

The pope will lead a mass at the Tacloban City airport on Jan. 17, then head for Palo town where he will bless the Pope Francis Center for the Poor.

 

He will also have a meal with residents affected by recent calamities.

 

The pope will stay in the Philippines Jan. 15 to 19. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News