Hypertension hits most devotees in Traslacion 2018 – local health official

Hypertension is still the top medical problem of most Black Nazarene devotees participating in this year’s Traslacion, a Manila Health Department (MHD) official said on Tuesday.

In an interview minutes after the Black Nazarene’s andas (carriage) left Quirino Grandstand at around 5:00 a.m., MHD’s Emergency Management Chief Dr. Virgilio Martin III noted that since the “Pahalik” on Monday, January 8, they have recorded almost 150 cases of devotees who suffered hypertension.

Pahalik is a tradition in the run-up to the main traslacion (procession), which is part of the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene.

“Siguro alam mo naman yung mga elderly, may sakit, at the same time pumila sila, nabilad sa araw, nagutom, ‘di nakaihi kaya naging hypertensive. At the same time, mga uminit ang ulo tapos mga walang gamot kaya nag-taasan ang presyon,” Martin told INQUIRER.net.

Despite assuring that the MHD prepared for possible health emergencies for Traslacion 2018, Martin urged devotees to rest once in a while, and to remember the true meaning of their devotion.

“If I may suggest, ‘pag pagod na sila magpahinga na sila. They have done so much already. They don’t have to prove anything,” he stressed.

“Ang faith natin nasa tao ‘yan, hindi naman kailangan patunayan mo sa Diyos. Alam ng Diyos na mahal mo Sya, mahal Niya tayo ‘di ba,” he added.

Aside from the cases of hypertension, the local health department chief said they recorded five serious cases and consequently referred them to the Ospital ng Maynila.

“One was a post CVA victim, ibig sabihin cerebral vascular accident. Na-stroke na sya dati pero unfortunately pumila sya wala pa kasama nag-iisa di sya makaalis sa pila, di rin kumain at di nakadala ng gamot kaya hinimatay. We had to bring her to the hospital. The sad part another stroke ang nangyari so lumala ang kondisyon nya,” Martin said referring to a 62-year-old lady who was rushed to the hospital last Monday.

So far, however, the local health department official noted a lower number of injured Black Nazarene devotees this year compared to that of 2017.

“Compared last year, today minor (ang injuries). Usually we have around 500 injured kasi nagbabalyahan eh. Pero fortunately for today mga 10-12 lang,” Martin said.

This, he said, was because of the new arrangement implemented for the Traslacion 2018 where the Black Nazarene statue was sent down to its andas (carriage) even before devotees were able to come near it.

“New plan na ibababa ang Nazareno, dati kasi hinahatak sa stage pa lang. Kaya walang struggle ngayon, so less injury,” he added.    /kga