Typhoon Victims in the Philippines Need Recovery
Tropical Storm Sendong, which struck the southern Philippines on 16-18 December 2011, damaged health facilities, ruined medicines and medical supplies and disrupted essential public health services in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities and the province of Misamis Occidental.
Seventeen barangay health centres and hospitals were damaged in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Oroquieta and Ozamis cities. The total cost to rebuild and furnish these facilities is an estimated PhP 25.6 million.
Continuing operations of health facilities is especially vital because of the surge of patients after the storm and ensuing floods. In the Northern Mindanao Medical Centre, consultations and admissions for diarrhoea and other common illnesses doubled. The health sector must have the capacity to absorb this increase of medical consultations and be able to meet patients’ needs.
Local health officials developed mechanisms to ensure health service delivery. One essential component is a strong referral system from barangay health centres to secondary public hospitals. Some health facilities contain medicines that are given free to patients on a long-term basis – to tuberculosis patients, for example. In cases where these medications were destroyed, patients are being referred to the closest health facility.
The World Health Organization continues to support the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure that the health system is functioning efficiently. The DOH is coordinating and facilitating the health emergency response among the public and private health sectors, local and international nongovernmental organizations, faith-based and professional organizations and other civil society groups. So far, delivery of health services has been well-coordinated and all evacuation centres and affected barangays are being served.
WHO has provided Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care packages for health centres. These packages contain essential medicines, supplies and equipment to ensure the continuity of primary care functions. Essential services performed in health centers include prenatal care, deliveries, postnatal care, immunizations, out-patient services for common illnesses, health education, disease prevention and surveillance.
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