200 Persons Receive Medical Assistance During APEC Activities

The Department of Health (DOH) disclosed Friday that it gave medical assistance to almost 200 persons before and during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation’s (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting.

“From November 12 to 12 noon of November 20, there were a total of 200 consultations done by our deployed medical teams,” said DOH-Health and Management Bureau Director Gloria Balboa.

Of the 200, 49 were APEC delegates; 126 are APEC personnel; while 25 are non-APEC related cases.

She said that among the top in the list of the causes of consultation were headache, acute gastroenteritis, hypertension, acute respiratory infections, and muscle pain.”

A total of 103 medical teams have been deployed in major points in the country to ensure responders’ assistance in any untoward incident during the event as part of the safety and health preparations for the delegates and participants.

“As the lead agency for the APEC Sub-Task Group on Medical Emergency Management, the DOH oversees the entire preparation and actual implementation of all activities in relation to medical needs and concerns of all APEC participants,” DOH Secretary Janette L. Garin said earlier.

The medical teams comprising of health personnel were deployed at various points in the country such as Philippine International Convention Center, Mall of Asia, airports, and areas where delegates and participants converged.

Each medical team was composed of a doctor, two nurses, and an ambulance driver.

Prior to deployment, the agency had also issued guidelines and protocols in relation to health requirements, health preparedness, and contingency planning for airport, venue, hotels, and hospitals prior to the conduct of the momentous event that culminated Thursday night.

Prior to the conduct of the APEC Leaders activities Garin also made announcements that all DOH retained hospitals and regional offices nationwide were ordered to observed Code White Alert.

Code White Alert refers to the readiness of hospital manpower – like general and orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, internists, operating room nurses, opthalmologists, and otorhinolaryngologists – to respond to any emergency situation.

Hospitals are placed under Code White Alert in anticipation of emergency service, where nurses and administrative personnel residing at the hospital dormitory are under on-call to provide immediate medical assistance.

Sufficient supply of medicines and other equipments are also ready in times like that so that the health interest of the patient brought to the hospital will be fully promoted and given the needed attention to avoid delays in the delivery of health service and in saving lives. (PNA) RMA/LSJ