Hospitals, health units mobilized; emergency medical teams on full standby ahead of expected storm impact
By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) has placed all government and private hospitals, rural health units, and other healthcare facilities in the Ilocos Region under Code White Alert, mobilizing the region’s entire health emergency network as Super Typhoon Inday barrels toward Northern Luzon.
Effective July 8, the heightened alert places medical personnel, emergency response teams, ambulances, medicines, blood supplies, and other critical health resources on full operational readiness to ensure uninterrupted medical services and rapid emergency response should the powerful cyclone strike affected communities.
The DOH Ilocos Center for Health Development (CHD) Operations Center has likewise activated 24-hour monitoring of health-related incidents and intensified coordination with provincial, city, municipal, and hospital emergency operations centers to guarantee a synchronized and immediate public health response throughout the region.
Regional Director Helen D. Tobias warned residents not to underestimate the danger posed by the approaching super typhoon, stressing that preparedness and prompt evacuation remain the strongest safeguards against disaster.
She urged the public to closely follow official advisories issued by PAGASA and local government units and to evacuate immediately when ordered rather than waiting for floodwaters or destructive winds to worsen.
The health chief also advised every household to prepare emergency medicines, first-aid kits, safe drinking water, and other essential supplies while avoiding exposure to floodwaters, which could trigger outbreaks of leptospirosis, diarrhea, skin infections, and other waterborne diseases.
Beyond disaster preparedness, Tobias reminded residents to observe strict health precautions before, during, and after the typhoon by drinking only safe or boiled water, practicing proper hand hygiene, consuming well-prepared food, and ensuring that children, senior citizens, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic illnesses receive the care and protection they need.
Individuals suffering injuries, fever, diarrhea, or other symptoms following floods or exposure to contaminated water were urged to seek immediate medical attention to prevent life-threatening complications.
The DOH assured the public that all essential health services will remain fully operational throughout the emergency and reaffirmed its commitment to work alongside local government units, hospitals, emergency responders, and partner agencies to safeguard the lives and well-being of every Ilocano.
Health-related emergencies may be reported to the DOH Ilocos CHD Operations Center through the following hotlines:
SMART: 0995-865-3945
GLOBE: 0908-873-8451
As Super Typhoon Inday closes in, the Department called on the public to remain vigilant, heed only official government advisories, and cooperate fully with emergency authorities, emphasizing that early preparedness and collective action remain the most effective defenses against the looming threat.
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