Palarong Pambansa health chief says games safe after over 100 taken to hospital

The medical committee of the 2024 Palarong Pambansa sought to allay fears about the health and safety of athletes after over 100 participants in Cebu were taken to the hospital for various ailments and injuries, Super Radyo dzBB reported Saturday.

Rhoel Dejaño, overall head of the games' medical panel, told Super Radyo dzBB that out of all those who were rushed to the hospital, only 23 were admitted.

The patients' ailments include dengue, gastritis, and injuries such as bone fractures. Dejaño was quoted as saying that only three athletes remain confined.

Out of some 10,000 participants in this year's Palarong Pambansa, Dejaño said, only a small percentage was affected thus the situation was not alarming.

"On our end, I can really say that the 23 admissions is really a very, very small percentage to the total population of athletes right now. Even if we compare it to Olympic data, this is point zero something percent (only) of the population of athletes, which is more or less comparable, or even less than usual data coming from big sporting events," Dejaño said.

Last Tuesday, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. attended the opening ceremony of the 2024 Palarong Pambansa at the Cebu City Sports Center.

In his speech, Marcos praised athletes for their hard work and dedication as they qualified for the national event.

The President also highlighted the firsts of this year's Palaro, the debut of the National Academy of Sports and the Philippine Overseas Schools, the inclusion of dancesport as a regular sport, and soft tennis, karatedo, football for secondary girls, and eSports as exhibition sports. — VDV, GMA Integrated News