By Aaron Recuenco
General Oscar Albayalde, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered Wednesday all police commanders to monitor the health condition of all policemen and their dependents amid the declaration of national dengue epidemic in the country.
PNP chief Police General Oscar Albayalde (KEVIN TRISTAN ESPIRITU / MANILA BULLETIN)
At the same time, Albayalde tasked the PNP Health Service to coordinate with the Department of Health to help in raising public awareness on the prevention of dengue.
PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said that an order was already issued to make all police hospitals ready for possible influx of police patients and their dependents.
“We have not received any report so far that policemen and their dependents were affected by dengue. But we are now making actions for prevention because once dengue affected any member of the policemen’s family, this would definitely affect their job,” said Banac.
“So our Chief PNP has already ordered our commanders to render assistance to local health units and hospitals for public awareness program, and to monitor the health condition of all police personnel,” he added.
Banac said that part of the preparation is to ensure adequate supply of blood for transfusion and other medicines needed to treat dengue for policemen and their dependents.
But Banac said the PNP is also ready to assist civilian patients who need police help.
“For instance, our policemen are ready to donate blood for civilian patients who need it,” said Banac.
And in times of emergency for dengue patients, he said police hospitals could accommodate civilian patients for emergency treatment before they are transferred to regular hospitals.
Policemen, PNP civilian employees and their dependents are the priority in police hospitals.
READ MORE: DOH declares national dengue epidemic