DOH on ‘code white’ as Typhoon Tino whips southern PH
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has raised a “code white” alert for faster deployment of medical assistance amid the onslaught of Typhoon Tino.
A “code white” alert is raised to ensure that all assigned medical personnel, medical equipment, and facilities will be ready to respond to emergencies and incidents.
“Nakahanda sa DOH Operations Center ang mga gamot, medical equipment, health emergency response teams para sa mga rehiyon na naapektuhan ng bagyo,” DOH said in a Facebook post.
(The DOH Operations Center is ready to provide medicines, medical equipment, and health emergency response teams in regions affected by the typhoon.)
The DOH added that its Operations Center is monitoring the situation in typhoon-affected areas round the clock.
READ: Typhoon Tino death toll hits 52; over 400,000 displaced — NDRRMC
In its 8 a.m. bulletin on Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration reported that Tino was tracked over the waters of El Nido, Palawan, moving west-northwest at 25 kilometers per hour (kph), with maximum winds of 120 kph and gusts of up to 165 kph.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, in its 6 a.m. report, said that the death toll from Tino had risen to 52, with 50 fatalities coming from Central Visayas and two from Eastern Visayas.
READ: LIVE UPDATES: Typhoon Tino
In a separate post, the DOH said that over 1,800 families in Aklan were assisted in coordination with the provincial government.
Families were provided hygiene kits, jerrycans, and water containers with clean drinking water.
The DOH also said that supplies of doxycycline are sufficient once doctors prescribe it to residents who waded through floodwaters.
The Philippine Institute of Health Insurance earlier said that doxycycline, an antibiotic, “is the recommended post-exposure chemoprophylactic agent for leptospirosis.” /gsg/abc
