DOH places regional hospitals on white alert over tsunami threat

The Department of Health on Friday afternoon placed on white its regional hospitals and health facilities in areas threatened by the tsunami from Japan. Health Secretary Enrique Ona ordered continuous monitoring of events in their respective areas following the magnitude-8.9 earthquake. "Health facilities, hospitals, and offices in the Batanes Group of Island, Cagayan, locos Norte, Isabela, Quezon Province, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur should be on Code White alert to assist residents who may beaffected by the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami," the DOH Health Emergency Management Staff, in coordination with the local government units, said in a news release on the DOH website. A Code White alert ensures that emergency medicines especially for trauma needs should be stocked up and made available at the emergency room. Ona said the DOH central office is ready to provide material and logistical support to regional health facilities, hospitals, and offices which may need them. "I call on my fellow health workers to take appropriate precautions, along with their catchment population, and be ready to provide emergency assistance and related services to all residents of areas that may be affected by this afternoon’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan," he added. Under Code White Alert, medicines and supplies in the operating rooms should be reviewed and increased to meet sudden requirements. Also, other needs such as X-ray plates, laboratory requirements, and others should be made available and not required to be purchased by victims. Regional offices are empowered to be prepared to assist in any evacuation of the population in their areas. DFA issues hotlines The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) set up hotline numbers and an e-mail address for those who would like to inquire about the conditions of Filipinos in Japan. Hotline numbers at the DFA-OUMWA's Crisis Management Center are 834-4646 and 834-4580. Requests for information may also be sent through e-mail address dfaoumwa.cmc@gmail.com. — RSJ, GMA News