DOH deploys medical teams to quakes-stricken Batanes

A resident looks at the damage in Itbayat town in Batanes following two earthquakes on Saturday, July 27, 2019. (Photo by AGNES SALENGUA NICO via AP)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said it sent medical teams to help the people of Itbayat in Batanes, which was struck by earthquake two times over the weekend.

The health department said the mental health and psychosocial support team from the Mariveles Mental Hospital – composed of one doctor, four nurses and one social worker – flew to Batanes on Monday morning.

An eight-man trauma team from the Cagayan Valley Medical Center — composed of five doctors, one nurse, and two health emergency management staff — was also deployed on Sunday, DOH said.

Meanwhile, the health department said it activated the Code Blue Alert in the province of Batanes and White Alert in the DOH Cagayan Valley Center for Health Development (CHD) Operations Center, which means health officers would be on 24-hour duty to assist victims.

In its report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that a total of 63 people sustained injuries from the tremor.

Of this number, DOH said six were admitted at the Batanes General Hospital (BGH) while an undetermined number of injured individuals were flown to Manila for further treatment.

Further, the health agency said over P700,000-worth of medical articles have been delivered to Batanes which includes intravenous sets, trauma supplies, tetanus toxoid vaccines, anti-tetanus serum, hygiene kits, water purification tablets, water containers filled with potable water, and other essential drugs and medicines.

DOH added that several other medical teams are also on standby for possible deployment.

Two quakes hit Itbayat on Saturday morning – magnitude 5.4 at 4:16 a.m. and magnitude 5.9 at 7:37 a.m.

Authorities said the quakes have so far claimed the lives of nine people.

READ: Death toll from Batanes twin quakes rises to 9

READ: 5.9 magnitude quake jolts Batanes

READ: Magnitude 5.4 quake rocks Itbayat, Batanes

Damage to health structures

DOH then reported that damage to health structures in Itbayat, the hardest-hit town by the earthquake, already amounted to P47 million.

DOH said Itbayat’s District Hospital and its Municipal Health Office sustained cracks due to the twin quakes and the aftershocks that followed. /kga