Medical team readied for poll deployment

CEBU, Philippines - Medical officials and personnel from 16 provincial and district hospitals in Cebu have been alerted for possible deployment on elections day, May 9. 

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Cynthia Genosolango said medical teams would be fielded in areas with a huge voting population. 

The poll body has identified schools in 10 cities and municipalities, such as San Roque and Tabunok elementary schools in Talisay City; Don Andres Barangay High School and South City Central Schools in Toledo City; and Danao City Central School and Bibiana Mercado Elementary School in Danao City. 

Other areas are Tayud and Bagong Lipunan elementary schools in Consolacion; Tuyan and Inayagan elementary schools in Naga City; Perrelos Elemantary School in Carcar City; Yati Elementary School in Liloan; and schools in Lower Tunghaan, Minglanilla, Maya in Daanbantayan, and Gairan in Bogo City. 

Genosolango said medical teams would be deployed depending on their proximity to district or provincial hospitals.

Provincial hospitals are the Carcar Provincial Hospital, Danao Provincial Hospital, Bogo Provincial Hospital, and Balamban Provincial Hospital. District hospitals, on the other hand, are in Minglanilla, Tuburan, Sogod, Daanbantayan, Pinamungajan, Oslob, Argao, Badian, Barili, Camotes Islands, Bantayan Island and Malabuyoc. 

Genosolango said the primary objective of the medical team is to ensure the safety and welfare of the voters and officials from the Department of Education, Commission on Elections, police force and other supporting government agencies. 

She said among the health problems they expect to encounter are high blood pressure, dizziness, fatigue and hypoglocemia or low blood sugar. 

“Our personnel have been readied for election duties, especially responding to senior citizens and pregnant women, and those who might faint due to extreme heat,” she said. – (FREEMAN)