The Department of Health (DOH) has deployed over P31 million worth of emergency medicines and supplies to several flood-affected regions across the Philippines, aiming to curb the spread of diseases following weeks of heavy rain.
DOH Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Albert Domingo confirmed in a Tuesday press briefing that local government units (LGUs) have begun utilizing the prepositioned aid. The regions currently benefiting include Cagayan Valley, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Northern Mindanao.
To strengthen preparedness, an additional P180 million worth of standby medical provisions—ranging from antibiotics and fever reducers to oral rehydration salts and herbal remedies like lagundi—has been allocated.
The DOH also addressed urgent sanitation and maternal needs by distributing hygiene kits, water containers, chlorine tablets, and breastfeeding kits. Medical teams and local health workers have been deployed to evacuation centers to administer medication, monitor evacuees, and prevent the spread of disease.
Domingo emphasized the importance of early medical consultation, especially after contact with floodwater.
“Even if we don’t feel any symptoms yet, as long as floodwater touches our skin, let’s consult our doctors. Medicine is available for free at government health centers,” he said in a Daily Tribune report.
The health department further urged residents to boil water for at least two minutes before drinking, avoid direct floodwater contact, and be vigilant for signs of leptospirosis, including fever, muscle pain, and yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa has also been visiting evacuation centers in Metro Manila and other affected areas to personally assess the health conditions of displaced communities.
