By PNA and U.S. News Agency / Asian

Health Secretary Enrique Ona on Wednesday flew with President Benigno Aquino III to Dumaguete City to personally assess the damage done by the recent magnitude 6.9 earthquake to Central Visayas.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC) Situation reported on Tuesday 13 deaths and 52 injured; the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported 71 missing persons.

Secretary Ona has instructed the Centers for Health Development in Central Visayas (Region 7) and Western Visayas (Region 6), areas which felt the magnitude of the quake, to provide assistance to local government units and to evaluate the extent of the damage.

Initial, assistance of the DOH include the provision of 100 cadaver bags, 1000 vials of tetanus toxoid vaccines, assorted medicines and supplies amounting to Php 200,000.00.

Center for Health Development (CHD) VII – Central Visayas (the Department of Health (DOH) regional office in Cebu) reported damage to a number of health facilities, noting surface cracks at the St. Vincent General Hospital (Old Building) in Cebu City as well as in Guihulngan District Hospital, a 50-bed hospital in Negros Oriental.

The CHD has been on Code Red Alert since February 6 and has coordinated with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council through the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) VII.

They had activated the local health emergency management network through the Provincial HEMS coordinators of Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, and Negros Oriental for continuous monitoring, assessment, and updates.

The CHD also coordinated with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council of Negros Oriental for urgent supplies and other assistance.

CHD Central Visayas also sent a 3-man (1 doctor, 2 nurses) rapid health assessment team to Guihulngan District Hospital, established an advanced medical post and prepositioned supplies (such as body bags, IV fluids, medicines and boxes of hyposols for water disinfection), and coordinated with the provincial radio stations for release of advisories to alleviate public panic and for assurance of assistance.

The DOH regional office also sent a 10-man medical team (4 doctors, 4 nurses, 1 medical technologist, 1 dentist) from Sen Vicente Sotto to support Guihulngan District Hospital.

In Western Visayas where the tremor was also felt, the CHD reported (two) minor injuries at Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital, Kabankalan City, five minor injuries at San Carlos City Hospital, Negros Occidental, and no deaths reported.

The Health Chief assured the public that the DOH is continuously coordinating with the concerned government agencies and local governments to ensure the needs of those affected by the earthquake.