St. Luke’s Medical Center–Global City launched relief operations for the victims of Taal Volcano eruption on Jan. 18.
The relief efforts comprised of medical missions and relief operations.
SLMC-Global City teamed up with the Philippine Army and sent a team of 80 doctors and 3,500 packs of relief goods (food, water, hygiene kits, diapers and blankets). These were split between concurrent operations in several cities in Batangas and Laguna.
The doctors and nurses were able to care for more than 1,000 patients during the medical missions. The evacuees were checked for respiratory illnesses that may have developed from exposure to volcanic ash and given consult for acute and chronic diseases.
“Part of our medical mission is to treat those who are sick now so the diseases don’t spread to the rest of the evacuees. So, for medical assistance, we have here adult and pediatric doctors ready for consultation. We also brought medicine for common illnesses like cough, colds, and diarrhea,” said SLMC president and CEO Dr. Arturo De La Peña.
SLMC Nurse Unit manager Gillian Platino said the team saw a lot of patients with cough and colds. “We’ve also seen one with possible chickenpox so, of course, that has a possibility of spreading. It’s good that a pediatrician was able to prescribe the child medication,” Platino said.
