Metro hospitals ready, able — DOH

Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit assured the public Metro Manila hospitals can deal with possible bombing incidents.

Dayrit said there is adequate burn expertise in several government hospitals.

The hospitals have the necessary medicines and supplies to treat an anticipated influx of bombing victims.

The health chief pointed out a code blue alert has been in place in government hospitals as form of disaster preparedness.

Dayrit, in a recent press conference at the DOH compound in Manila, presented the four-man medical team sent to Bali, Indonesia to help in the treatment of victims of the bombing that rocked a resort in the island two weeks ago.

The team, composed of burn specialists Dr. Hector Santos of the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) and Dr. Palicido Calimag of the Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) and nurses Derek Demlar of EAMC and Teresita Fernandez of QMMC, returned the other day from a six-day stay in Bali.

Indonesian consul Andang Pramana, who attended the conference, relayed the appreciation of his government for the assistance extended by the Philippine government. – Rainier Allan Ronda