Disaster within a disaster – this is how experts described the onslaught of a powerful typhoon during a pandemic. How did the country prepare and responded during this challenging time?
Amid the recent Omicron-driven surge of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in December 2021, typhoon Odette (international name: Rai), ravaged the country with winds up to 160 kilometers per hour (kph) and affected 11 out of the 17 regions of the Philippines.
The weather disturbance displaced over 9 million Filipinos, damaged 220 health facilities, including 33 major hospitals across the country, and had increased the viral transmission of COVID-19 in evacuation centers.
“Ang karanasan na ito ay nagbigay sa atin ng pagkakataon upang mamulat at matuto. Kapag ang COVID at ang sakuna ay nagtagpo, kailangan nating bumuo ng isang matatag na public health response (This experience gave us an opportunity to learn. When COVID-19 and disasters converge, we need to develop a strong public health response),” said Dr. Abdullah Dumama Jr., Undersecretary of the Field Implementation and Coordination Team of the Department of Health (DOH) during a webinar held by the University of the Philippines (UP) on Friday, Feb. 4.
The webinar is entitled “COVID-19 na, may bagyo pa! Paano na?” and it aired in the UP’s various social media accounts, aiming to educate the public on how the national government responded and prepared for the possible impacts of typhoon Odette.
The devastation
While the vaccination remained the country’s “primary arm” in battling the virus, Dumama emphasized the need of implementing new guidelines in order to win against the ever-changing pandemic.
“Tayo ay kumikilos ngayon sa mga health response plans bago pa man nagkaroon ng pandemya, sa makatuwid ay kinakailangang maiangat ang planong ito sa mga pangangailangan ng panahon (We are working on health response plans that was created before the pandemic, so it is necessary to elevate this plan to meet the ever-changing needs of time),” Dumama added.
Meanwhile, he reiterated that responding to a disaster during the time of COVID-19 is already difficult. Dumama noted the damaged electricity lines, pipelines, and even communication lines which compromised the rescue and relief operations.
“Sources of physiologic and security needs like food and shelter were lost. It a nightmare,” Dumama said.
Given the country’s geographic location, the country is susceptible to tropical cyclones. In relation to this, Dumama reiterated that the Philippines should “prepare in order to prevent the catastrophic situations” amid the pandemic.
Action plan
According to Dumama, the DOH’s strategy in responding to a natural disaster amid the pandemic relied on the “command, communication, and control” method.
“Three things are essential to be established immediately in order to manage and mitigate the event. One is command, second communication, and third is control,” said Dumama.
In his presentation, Dumama disclosed that as early as Dec. 13, the DOH disseminated weather alerts and memorandum to mitigate the possible impacts of “Odette.”
Beginning Dec. 14 until Dec. 16, the Center for Health Developments (CHDs) prepositioned its logistics and Health Emergency Response Teams (HERTs) for deployment to provinces.
After the onslaught of typhoon Odette, Dumama said that the DOH continued its response by conducting a series of meetings with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and by providing situation reports from the HERTs.
“In close coordination with government agencies, we managed to move resources using available government assets and secure the availability of each to the affected areas,” said Dumama.
Meanwhile, under the premise of preventing the spread of COVID-19 amid a natural disaster, Dumama admitted that the Department responded “ more calculatedly.”
He likewise reiterated the DOH is pushing for the “actual implementation” of precautionary measures that could help the country in times of natural disasters during a pandemic.
“I hope for the creation of operational guidelines on responding to disasters in time of COVID-19. This shall include, but not limited to, quad cluster approach and vaccination, National Patient Navigation and Referral System, dedicated COVID-19 resources, a minimum number of days of Health Emergency Response deployment of at least 10 days, and deployment of cadres based on local needs,” said Dumama.