Field hospitals put up in Siargao after hospitals damaged by Typhoon Odette

Field hospitals have been put up in Siargao after the island's hospitals were severely damaged by Typhoon Odette.

According to JP Soriano’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday, medical workers from the Davao Regional Medical Center and Philippine College of Surgeons conducted a medical relief response and put up Field Hospital Type 2 in General Luna, Siargao Island.

More than 340 residents were reportedly injured due to the fallen trees and household items during the onslaught of Odette.

“Disrupted lahat ng health services whether it’s a primary or secondary services that is why we are mandated by the DOH [Department of Health] to do a humanitarian medical relief response,” Rodel Flores, a medical worker from Davao Regional Medical Center, said.

The injured residents were vaccinated with anti-tetanus and given necessary medical assistance.

At least 12 doctors, seven nurses, medical social worker, medical technician, and biomedical engineer were currently staying at the field hospital.

They also put up an operating room with complete medical operation equipment, apart from the designated rooms for those who needed to admit.

“Initially, when we started last 27, mga diarrhea cases pa but today napapansin namin na medyo nag-ano na yung diarrhea but dumarami na yung respiratory cases ng pneumonia ng mga bata at saka adult,” Flores said.

(Initially, when we started last December 27, we dealt with diarrhea cases but today we noticed that more respiratory cases of pneumonia in children and adults started to increase.)

Meanwhile, those patients who showed symptoms similar to COVID-19 were immediately tested and yielded negative test results.

The residents, however, appealed for generator sets due to shortage of power supply.

“We are in shortage of generator sets kasi it is not only needed by the water refilling station, it is also needed by the clinics, the health centers,” Innah Crisostomo, one of the volunteers, said.

Those interested in donating generator sets and relief assistance may contact  Iñigo Taojo through 0917-720-9431 or Inigo.taojo@hexatmining.com. — Richa Noriega/BM, GMA News