Cebu Health Officials Alert Provincial Hospitals For May 9 Elections

The Cebu Provincial Health Office (CPHO) is alerting provincial hospitals under its supervision to be ready for deployment in case their services are needed in the May 9 elections.

Dr. Cynthia Genosolango, Cebu Provincial Health Officer, said she wants CPHO teams to stay alert whether or not the Department of Health (DOH) 7 will ask the CPHO and its health teams in the 16 district and provincial hospitals to serve in the upcoming May 9 elections as responders.

She said there is the possibility the CPHO teams will be fielded in areas with huge number of voters.

Genosolango said CPHO teams are preparing for election duties, especially responding to cases of voters fainting or collapsing due to heat exhaustion and cases involving senior citizens.

Assignment of heath teams and responders to designated voting centers also depend on their proximity to district or provincial hospitals, she said.

Priority voting centers are areas with a big voting population.

Based on data provided by Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Medical Response Package, the top 10 Cebu municipalities with heavily populated voting centers are San Roque and Tabunok Elementary Schools in Talisay City, Don Andres Barangay High School and South City Central Schools in Toledo City, Danao City Central School and Bibiana Mercado Elementary School in Danao City, Tayud Elementary School and Bagong Lipunan Elementary School in Consolacion, Tuyan and Inayagan Elementary Schools in Naga City, Perrelos Elementary School in Carcar City, Yati Elementary School in Liloan, Lower Tunghaan, Minglanilla, Maya in Daan Bantayan, and Gairan in Bogo City.

The primary goal of the medical team is to ensure the safety and welfare of the voters, Department of Education (DepEd) personnel, Comelec and supporting government agencies.

Health officials in the region are ready for SAFE 2016, or Secure, Accurate, Free Election. (PNA) FFC/EB/EBP