El Niño will not disrupt health services

THE Department of Health (DoH) has assured the public that all governmentrun hospitals will remain “up and running” and that health care services will not be disrupted despite the prevailing El Niño episode.

In a statement Monday, DoH officials said they are working closely with national government agencies to ensure that hospitals will remain operational, while the Task Force El Niño is carrying out measures to avert threats of water shortages and power outages.

“We are ready for El Niño. Our hospitals will stay up and running despite anticipated power and water challenges. There are contingency plans in place,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said.

Dr. Juan Javier Garchitorena of the DoH Health Emergency Management Bureau said they have already provided partner government agencies a list of health facilities with problems in water and energy security.

Garchitorena said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Energy, and Department of Interior and Local Government have been given the list of health care facilities.

The DoH said it is also working with all health facilities in assessing their El Niño preparedness and on how to further improve their strategies as El Niño peaks.

Last January 19, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed an executive order directing the task force to develop a disaster preparedness and rehabilitation plan for El Niño and La Niña to provide “systematic, holistic, and results-driven interventions” to help the public cope with and minimize their devastating effects.