San Juan City huddles elected pols, health execs to discuss mpox

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora distributed flyers regarding mpox to barangay health workers and officials. The local government of San Juan and the Department of Health conducted a town hall meeting educating San Juaneño constituents regarding mpox.

MANILA, Philippines – The local government of San Juan City, through its City Health Department (CHD) and in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH), successfully conducted a town hall meeting on mpox for elected city and barangay officials, healthcare workers and barangay health workers on Tuesday at the San Juan City Hall Atrium.

The event, which served as the very first face-to-face town hall meeting on mpox in the country is aimed to provide essential information and address concerns regarding mpox, a viral disease caused by the Monkeypox virus. 

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora with barangay health workers and officials. The local government of San Juan and the Department of Health conducted a town hall meeting educating San Juaneño constituents regarding mpox.

The town hall meeting was graced by Mayor Francis Zamora, the San Juan City Council, DOH Regional Director Dr. Rio L. Magpantay, PHSAE, CESO III, DOH Development Management Officer V Dr. Manuel C. Mapue, DOH-MMCHD Chief of Local Health Support Division Dr. Janice Kathleen Malesido, and DOH-MMCHD Nurse Mr. Romeo Apuli Jr.

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora distributes flyers regarding mpox to barangay health workers and officials. The local government of San Juan and the Department of Health conducted a town hall meeting educating San Juaneño constituents regarding mpox.

“It is important that we arm our healthcare and barangay health workers with facts that will help us in preventing this disease from spreading, create more awareness, as well as know the latest updates on this. This is also our chance to clarify misinformation and debunk myths surrounding the disease to reduce fear and ensure that we are only circulating the correct information,” said Zamora.

Healthcare workers from UERM Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center and other private health care practitioners were also invited to join the townhall meeting. 

Zamora emphasized the importance of information dissemination, stating, “Sa mga nakaraang pagpupulong namin sa Metro Manila Council ay nakasama po natin si DOH Undersecretary Balboa at nakausap ko na rin po nang ilang beses si Sec. Herbosa at isa po sa ginagampanan natin bilang pangulo ng Metro Manila Council ay ang magsagawa ng isang malawakang information campaign upang malaman ng tao ano ba talaga itong M-Pox at mahalaga po na andito kayo ngayon sapagkat kayo naman po ang tutulong sa amin na maipakalat ang impormasyon sa ating mga mamamayan kaya sa lahat po na nanonood ngayon sa Facebook, paki-share po ang Facebook Live natin”. 

“I want everyone to listen in, sapagkat hindi po araw-araw na tayo ay pupuntahan ng Regional Director ng Department of Health para siya ay mag-lecture sa atin at ganun din po ang mga doctors na kasama po niya, so malaking pagkakataon po para sa atin sa San Juan para matuto at nawa’y ito ay magawa rin po sa iba’t ibang lungsod  at bayan sa ating bansa,” he added.

He also highlighted the importance of preparedness: “Yung ating team sa ating health department, tayo ay makinig dahil tungkulin din po nating ipaalam sa ating mga mamamayan, buti na lang po, itong taong 2024, 15 cases pa lamang dito sa ating bansa, but 11 are here in Metro Manila at yung 11 na po yan ay ayaw na nating dumami pa.”

DOH Regional Director Dr. Rio Magpantay further emphasized the significance of the town hall meeting, saying, “This townhall, the very first face to face townhall meeting among the 17 LGUs in Metro Manila is here now happening, isa pong malaking paghahanda ito kasi sa paghahandang ito ay malalaman natin ano ba ang mga dapat nating gawin, mga aksyon na dapat gawin at sino ang dapat tawagan at kausapin kapag merong positive, lahat po yan ay tatalakayin natin ngayong araw.”

He also expressed confidence in San Juan’s preparedness, adding, “Ang tanong ko lang po siguro, handa po ba ang San Juan? Ang sagot doon ay yes na yes, kasi kapag nakakausap ko ang ating San Juan City Health office, they are very receptive, lagi silang nagtatanong, ibig sabihin noon, ready sila.”

Magpantay concluded by emphasizing the importance of leadership in addressing the issue, saying, “Ano ang gagawin natin, paano tayo kikilos? We need leaders like you, sa inyo po manggagaling ang better actions if not the best, kasi po kayo ang magli-lead at kami naman po ay aayuda, anuman po ang kagustuhan ninyo na kayang ibigay ng kagawaran ay ibibigay naman ng kagawaran, that is for sure.”

The session focused on educating healthcare workers about Monkeypox, debunking misinformation, and providing the latest updates on the disease. The town hall meeting was also streamed live on Facebook via Mayor Francis Zamora’s Facebook page, “Mayor Francis Zamora.”