DOH-7 to send team to Tacloban for Francis’ visit

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health – 7 will be sending an augmentation team to Eastern Visayas next week for the visit of Pope Francis in Tacloban.

Dr. Dino Caing, head of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of DOH 7, said this is a voluntary act from DOH-7.

“This is an initiative of our regional director (Jaime) Bernadas. Primarily to augment the medical support group and to show solidarity with the Warays in welcoming the Pope. And to celebrate without medical problem among the attendees,” Caing told The Freeman.

Caing will lead the team of three doctors and three nurses.

“I’m the team leader. Puro mi taga Tacloban as instructed by our RD (regional director Bernadas). We’ll bring ambulatory medicines and apparatus for first aid station para sa venue,” the Waray native explained.

The group will leave for Tacloban City this coming Monday, January 14, so that it can join the coordination meeting the following day and make necessary final preparations for the pope’s visit.

Caing said the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center will also send a medical team to Tacloban.

“Wala pa lang sila naka finalize sa team composition unlike us,” he said.

Pope Francis will lead a Holy Mass at the Tacloban City airport on January 17, Saturday, before proceeding to nearby Palo town where he will bless the Pope Francis Center for the Poor, as well as share a meal with Visayas typhoon and earthquake survivors.

The augmentation team hopes to pull out of Tacloban on the same day and take the boat ride to Cebu so that they can join the Sinulog Festival celebration the following day.

Pope Francis’ pontifical and state visit to Philippines is from January 15 to 19, after the Vatican-based leader of the Catholic Church declared that he will personally pray for and bless the calamity victims of the Philippines, a predominantly Catholic and lone Christian nation in Asia. — Jessa J. Agua/JMO