AFP helps save lives of Itbayat dengue victims

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through the Northern Luzon Command (NoLCom), recently provided assistance by way of Air Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) to several dengue patients in the northernmost and isolated province of Batanes.

Last Wednesday, a letter request from Batanes Governor Marilou H. Cayco was received by NoLCom for assistance as 23 mostly child victims of dengue in Itbayat needed more focused medical attention.

Itbayat’s hospital does not have medical capability to treat patients infected with the dengue virus and three of the patients were already in critical condition.

Banca is the only transportation available to ferry patients from Itbayat to Basco. However, the weather condition made the situation worse as rough seas prevailed, making travel very treacherous.

Lt. Col. Isagani Nato, said NoLCom spokesman, said the AFP immediately deployed the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF’s) C295 plane the following day (July 5) to transport the patients to the Batanes General Hospital (BGH) for emergency treatment.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) also deployed its PCG Islander aircraft to transport patients.

Unfortunately, a child passed away in Itbayat, but the other critical patients airlifted the provincial hospital in Basco received the immediate treatment they needed.

Many lives of children were spared, said Nato.