DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has prepared emergency plans to contain the possible spread of the Ebola virus that has killed thousands in three West African countries where thousands of Filipinos are working.
Duterte, who spoke in a consultation of health workers on ways to deal with the Ebola threat Tuesday night, said he would commandeer a ship, and even mobilize the security forces, if worse came to worst in the fight against Ebola.
DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. LITO TECSON/CEBU DAILY NEWS
The mayor has set a November 15 deadline for local health authorities to fully prepare all facilities and health personnel in the region to deal with the disease.
“We only need one infected soul to come and the virus will already be here right at our doorstep,” Duterte said.
“I would like to let the people to know what we can do about the disease and be prepared for it,” he added.
On top of the preparedness plan at airports and hospitals, Duterte is meeting with barangay chairmen in alerting communities about the arrival of people from countries affected by Ebola.
The Bureau of Quarantine and the Department of Health will closely watch passengers coming into the city, not only through the direct international flights but also the domestic flights, for most of the passengers coming home from abroad pass through the international airports in Manila or Cebu before coming here.
If worse comes to worst, Duterte has said he would tap the military and the police to arrest possible unrest. He said he would look for a place to confine Ebola patients.
“I am wondering whether it is safe to put the patients inside the SPMC (Southern Philippines Medical Center) or find a place somewhere else,” Duterte said in a dialog with doctors and health workers and regional health officials Tuesday night.
“Most of you are laughing but I am thinking of putting them in a ship,” he said.
He told reporters he would commandeer a ship to prevent further contamination if Ebola reached Davao City.
“If we have 50 to 100 cases of Ebola, that’s already a matter of national security, so, I am rushing to prepare for this.”
Duterte said he would spend part of the intelligence fund to purchase a thermal scanner and other safety equipment for health workers and doctors who would be on the frontline in containing the virus.
The city government will also deploy an ambulance to bring people showing Ebola symptoms to the hospital.
Health authorities are currently making an inventory of existing equipment and facilities, as well as training health workers for their protection in case they are assigned to deal with Ebola patients.
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