DOH-4B to intensify its preparedness and response system for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases

The Department of Health (DOH) in MIMAROPA is going to strengthen its “preparedness and response system” both for the emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

Dr. Mario Baquilod, DOH regional director, told Palawan Daily News (PDN) Friday, February 21, they will conduct a meeting in Manila next week with representatives of Provincial Health Offices (PHOs) and chiefs of hospitals from all over Region 4-B.

“Titingnan namin and we will try to evaluate everything. We are reviewing ‘yong aming mga referral, ‘yong mga systems on preparedness and response [in] the whole of the region. We are trying to parang institutionalize ‘yong ating preparedness and response. Parang kasi ang feeling namin itong COVID 2019 ay not the first and the last. Kaya we are trying to ma-improve ‘yong ating system,” said Baquilod.

Baquilod said they will evaluate the issues encountered in the past including those of which surfaced during the threat of COVID-2019 and together help formulate further recommendations.

He said through sharing past experiences like these in the medical field, they will try to create a much more streamlined system towards approaching such infectious diseases in the region.

“For example ‘yong nangyari noong nalaman nila ‘yong sa Brazillian, na hindi alam kung saan dadalhin. Sana hindi na ganoon, meron nang ‘yong streamlined na ‘yong ating referral system. Kasi once ‘yong suspect ay naka-kwan (confine) lang sa RHU, madaming nai-expose,” he said.

He reiterated that the preparedness and response system they are going to intensify is focused upon two kinds of infectious diseases namely the emerging and re-emerging.

He added they will also tackle during the meeting how to properly address the surge of diseases.

“Ang tawag namin mga emerging and re-emerging. Kagaya nito, ang COVID 2019 ay emerging kasi bago pa lang naman siya. Iyong re-emerging for example ‘yong polio it is re-emerging. Although wala pa tayo dito, but we are preparing for such thing na ang polio was already eliminated tapos bumabalik siya, ‘yong mga ganoon,” he said.