By Jel Santos
Medical tents were recently sent by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to Iligan City to decongest hospitals catering dengue patients.
Medical tents for dengue patients (File photo from Philippine Red Cross website / MANILA BULLETIN)
PRC Chairman Richard Gordon said the dengue cases in Iligan City rapidly went up.
“The rapid increase in dengue cases and deaths in Iligan requires an immediate action. We, at the Red Cross, are taking such action to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable are addressed,” he said.
Gordon said one of the Iligan hospitals being supported by PRC through its medical tents is Gregorio T. Lluch Memorial Hospital, saying it sought their help.
On August 6, the Health Department declared national dengue epidemic following the surge of recorded dengue cases.
Iligan City, according to PRC, is 4th in the region when it comes to the number of dengue cases and tops the list in terms of death percentage.
PRC said it has also been monitoring dengue cases all over the country through its local chapters.
Gordon said PRC had previously dispatched medical tents to Cavite, Iloilo, and Capiz.
Around 600 blood units were provided by the humanitarian organization to various hospitals catering dengue patients.
Meantime, PRC chapters have also taken the initiative to facilitate clean-ups, and information drive to educate people about dengue.