Makati activates A(H1N1) flu readiness plan

MANILA, Philippines — Following the confirmation of the country's first A(H1N1) case, the country's premier financial district has placed its hospital on blue alert. City-run Ospital ng Makati, which had been on “white alert" since April 28, raised its response level to “blue alert" as of Friday morning, the Makati City website (www.makati.gov.ph) said. This developed as Makati City mayor Jejomar Binay ordered the activation of a flu readiness plan to avert a possible outbreak in the country's premier financial district. Binay chairs the task force, which he ordered to meet with management of hotels, malls and commercial establishments and adopt health measures. “We have an established and fully functional multi-sectoral task force that has already drawn up an initial Pandemic Preparedness Plan for Makati, which will continue to be expanded or modified as the situation progresses," he said. Ospital ng Makati medical director Dr. Perry Ishmael Peralta said under the “blue alert" status, the screening of all patients has been transferred outside the hospital premises, where tents have been put up to accommodate patients. Those who show flu-like symptoms, and with history of recent travel to countries affected by the virus or who may have been in contact with persons who came from these countries, will be taken to isolation units. Peralta said Osmak’s isolation units are located in Pembo and its Acute Care Center in Bel-Air. Isolation units will serve as temporary holding areas for “cases under observation" prior to their transfer to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for A (H1N1) confirmatory testing. Peralta also said effective Friday, they have imposed restrictions on visitors, including the designation of limited entry and exit points closely watched by Osmak security personnel who are under strict orders to bar visitors with cough and fever from entering the hospital. Meanwhile, Binay directed City Health Officer Dr. Lourdes Salud to meet with the management of various hotels, offices, malls and other Makati-based establishments. He said all establishments will be asked to comply with a Makati Health Department directive for them to install hand sanitizers in strategic areas as an initial step. “We have prioritized establishments like hotels because of their high level of risk exposure to the virus arising from the constant arrival of foreign guests or Filipinos coming from countries that have confirmed cases of the A(H1N1) flu," Salud said. Salud said the Pandemic Preparedness Plan for Makati also includes the immediate implementation of a massive citywide information drive to educate the residents and barangays, schools, establishments, and offices the nature, causes and prevention of A(H1N1) infection. “Aside from extensive preparations being made in our public tertiary hospital, the Ospital ng Makati, and in our barangay health centers, we have launched a citywide campaign to inform our constituents and stakeholders about the disease and how they can avoid contracting it," Salud said. She said flyers and other information materials are now being distributed for posting in highly visible areas in villages, schools, health centers, and other public places in the city. Plans are underway to tap the assistance of barangay officials in the campaign, through the city’s Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT). BHERT was formed during the SARS scare a few years back, she noted. Earlier Friday, Salud met with Makati public school officials and school nurses, who were also given an orientation on the nature, causes and prevention of the virus by Ofelia Tolentino, city surveillance officer. Health authorities advise residents and community leaders to be extra vigilant and take the necessary preventive measures, including frequent hand washing and sanitation, avoiding contact with ill persons, and promptly consulting a doctor when experiencing flu-like symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, and runny nose. - GMANews.TV