As novena starts, Medical teams set for response

CEBU, Philippines - Emergency medical response teams will be on standby starting today in key areas around the Basilica Minor del Sto. Niño with the start of the novena masses.

Today, emergency medical services (EMS) from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) and the Philippine Red Cross as well as the the Health Emergency Management Staff (HEMS) of the Department of Health-Central Visayas will be deployed in two stations around the area.

The first station would be in the Osmeña Boulevard side of the basilica particularly near the fastfood chains while the second is near the Magellan’s Cross.

Also, the Basak Pardo Emergency Response (BPER) and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management will also be ready to assist participants of the Walk with Jesus activity today. The Bureau of Fire Protection will also be detailed in the area as well as the St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital (SAMCH) team and the Talisay Rescue and Emergency Action Team (TREAT).

Tomorrow, teams from the Perpetual Succour Hospital with the Ang Labangon Emergency Response Team (ALERT) will be assigned in station 1 while Police Regional Office 7 will secure the station 2.

The teams from the Eversley Child Sanitarium Hospital and Inayawan Rescue Unit (IRU) and the Bureau of Quarantine will cover the third day of the novena mass.

For the fourth day, medical teams from Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) and Talisay District Hospital as well as the Accident Control and Emergency Rescue Team (ACERT) will cover stations 1 and 2, respectively.

On Monday, the Tipolo Emergency Rescue Team (TERT) and Pit-os Emergency Rescue Unit (PERU) will be assigned at the first station while the Vicente Gullas Memorial Hospital team will be assigned at the second station.

Day six of the novena mass will be handled by H. W. Miller Memorial Sanitarium and Hospital and St. Vincent General Hospital and Sambag II Emergency Unit while the Cebu Doctors University Hospital and Visayas Community Medical Center will be assigned for the seventh day.

The Sacred Heart Hospital and the Cebu City Medical Center teams will cover the eighth day of the novena and the All-Terrain Medical Relief Organization (AMRO) together with BPER and the Central Command will handle the last day of the novena.

Starting tomorrow, the Basilica Minor del Sto. Niño will be opened for 24 hours to allot more time for devotees to venerate and pray before the miraculous image and shrine of Sr. Sto. Nino.— (FREEMAN)